Skirting
By Dale Going
I don't want my legs to show
I don't want
my legs to show
that
I'm willing
instead
I ripped my skirt off
the first story (in which I am featured)
my mother having forgotten
the wooden clothespins which were my
usual toys not having them to gum
& grip instead I ripped my skirt off
say I'm willing
more than so
I'm too willing
so say so
more than say
so much than
I'm willing to say
I don't want my legs to show but my
breasts are available not motion but
gravity the steadfast pounding
not motion not pavement
the pounding
the skirt is the uniform grey &
sullen in school refusing to
hold a pleat wet wool on iron
steaming flung
after lying
in snow
thighs red & icy
sitting for yearbook pictures
smart girls honor society
our white
panties showing
every one
if I show you my legs
won’t you
see
that
I’m leaving
all life is
a leaning
slow dancing eyes closed
arms raised around his neck
each girl a view
for some other girl’s partner
they are not the feature the breasts
hide the heart or disclose it the legs
hide the opening
the skirt hides the legs
disguise
enclosure
in clothes
my mother couldn't understand why
I wouldn't wear a slip when standing
in the light the outline of my legs
shone
the skirt matters although it is see-
through
fear is a by-product
do not be dissuaded
this made more sense than that
division into love & fear
I began to see fear
as a curtain a scrim
substantive as light
evasive & theatrical
but light as a curtain
it need not be skirted
a skirt may be
ripped shredded
or moved easily aside
it need not be violated
it can be adjusted
Copyright Credit: Dale Going, "Skirting" from The View They Arrange. Copyright © 1994 by Dale Going. Reprinted by permission of Kelsey St. Press.
Source: The View They Arrange (Kelsey St. Press, 1994)