Steve Hobson
Like A Scene From A Tasteful Movie
I
I couldn’t see him, but the director
must have been looking at the scene, long shot
from the other side of the footbridge. It’s not
my job, but I thought it would be better
with ducks - just a few, dabbling green water
into circles. They sat at the white table
sipping coffee. Props had not been able
to get china coffee pots, just stainless
steel, hard against their soft collars and curve
of her neck, mouths full with desire and cream.
She licked her middle fingers with the palm
held outwards, as though holding in reserve
the final telling line. His long hands danced,
moulding their space into a ball, spinning
it then like silk thread to bind her singing.
II
Savage red curves beside blues
Hockney hangs in the mill,
sharp perspex beside stone.
Before the pencil sketch of a slumped
woman, they stood, dumbly aware
of the puzzle their bodies made.
She nuzzled into his chest,
a faint smile, her eyes brimming
with dark honey; he moved his hand
lower down her right arm.
As he looked down at her he thought
I’ve got you right where I want you.
Her full lips parted, then vaguely shut,
as if she were about to say
Now I’ve got you where I want you,
but then decided against it.
The director called cut.
Their eyes swam with lies.
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