Poems by Lawrence Jaffe

A sun so distinct,

I could see each ray. 

I am four and pedal

my little red fire engine

as fast as my imagination

to a fantasy inferno.

I rescue the residents

of an apartment building

from flaming disaster.

The city gives me its keys

and tickertape parade me

down the boardwalk

at Rockaway Beach.

I smile so wide at destiny.

I can still smell the ocean.

We all want to be heroes.

Sometimes when I look on the

floor to where you have kicked

I kick mine next to yours

to see how they fit together

how they look together

how they might walk together.

My shoes are so much bigger than yours,

you can fit both your feet in one of mine.

But I like the way your shoes look

as they nestle into the soles of my feet

the curve of your shoe worked into mine.

Sometimes your shoes pile on top of mine

and we have little shoe nests sprinkled

all around the apartment.

I don’t know how they get together

find each other around the furniture

but they always seem to seek each other out

like close friends pair to pair

our socks never behave like that

nor any other clothing only our shoes.

There is something homey about it,

yet at the same time very erotic,

as the toe of your shoe creeps inside mine.

I wonder if I have afoot fetish

or if I am turned on by shoes

but this is not an obsession

simply a love pat of looking

at your shoes next to mine.

You hold

scalding broth

to cold lips

feed me spirit

nurture me

without seeking

your own sustenance.

Have you ever looked at the orgasmic

nature of snowflakes, each one

righteously indignant and different?

A slight twist or turn, perhaps a moan

or shout.  The crystalline nature,

the taste, thaw and texture.

Each so different, recognizable

yet unique with differing origin.

Some soft and gentle, flurrying

clouding the eyes with pleasure.

Others come from everywhere

gale force winds thrusting

whirling, twirling.

Still others soothe like Christmas

morning full of cuddles, waking to

the covering white.  And sometimes

an avalanche hits all at once

drowning individuality

with complete climatic equity.

Orgasmic snowflakes

curl in the air capturing

souls and imagination

never belying that soft

warm moist beginning.