Contrapuntal Opening with a Line from Millay

She is neither pink nor pale

She is neither grain nor bud

She is neither pillow nor feather

She is neither out nor outside
nor put out nor outstanding

—not side or siding—

—not mica or formica—

She is neither black nor gray
nor cirrus

She is neither stratus nor
cumulous

She is neither beach nor sand

She is neither nipple nor bottle


She is neither jump-rope nor jacks
nor even parcheesi





She is not Japanese or Japanese


Not single. Not binary. Not theoretical.

Yes, dialectical. Yes.