Three poems by Michael Keshigian

Honeycomb Blues

This is how it used to be
with him and his lover,
she taught him
a new song
every morning,
a different line,
with her face
in the pillow,
tracing her finger
up the stairway
of his spine
with a weightless melody
until it filled his brain
and he sang
as he rolled over
to lock his lips
around hers
so she might sugar his mouth
with more honey,
her tongue tipping sweet melodies
backwards in his throat.
The day was longing
after mornings like that,
sunlight a lonely companion,
though the song droned
like bees in the hive
all day in his head.



Two-Step

I watched them gig
in the pit
playing funky jazz licks
in modal timbres
made me squirm.

I thought,
I'll blow this place
when this babe be-bopped from behind
hands in my hair
said we can really groove.

Flattered,
I danced through the night
till light
cut a ray
through her ceramic face

cracking beauty
into puzzle fragments.
Flaking,
she started to sing
the blues.



First Night

Someone cuddles close
with blond mane
and wide eyed stare,
upon my skin
her body floats
and holds on
lest we both drift.
Which one plays,
which one thinks,
both engaged
yet entangled
with questions.

Michael Keshigian's tenth poetry collection, Beyond, was released in May 2015 by Black Poppy.  Other published books and chapbooks:  Dark Edges, Eagle's Perch, Wildflowers, Jazz Face, Warm Summer Memories, Silent Poems, Seeking Solace, Dwindling Knight, Translucent View.  Published in numerous national and international journals, he is a 6-time Pushcart Prize and 2-time Best of the Net nominee.  His poetry cycle, Lunar Images, set for Clarinet, Piano, Narrator, was premiered at Del Mar College in Texas.  Subsequent performances occurred in Boston (Berklee College) and Moleto, Italy.  Winter Moon, a poem set for Soprano and Piano, premiered in Boston.  (michaelkeshigian.com).