Poetic Asides prompt. This is what happens when you spend three hours at Barnes and Noble, sipping cappuccino and reading Pablo Neruda love poems!
THE MEANING OF SILK STOCKINGS
Shiny satin garter belts with buttons and clasps
The sexiest, most alluring of fashion details
Stockings that slack a bit during the day
reminding her of their silky selves undercover
Tantalizing tug of war under her skirt
She never knew sensuality until she abandoned L’eggs
and smoothed sheer silk over
sturdy, smoothly shaved legs
Rolling the first carefully over calf and thigh
Easing the hem over the button
latching it securely, then
the other leg, this time more slowly
Later, on the dance floor, he hand on her hip
His eyes flash and she knows that he knows
What’s in store for the rest of the evening
It makes the wait agonizing bliss
He carefully eases the dress off, purring
with the subtle confidence of a true lover
His delight in the details of her undergarments
His appreciation of her shape, her way
Finding the treasure beneath
first teasing, pleasuring, then
slowly, cautiously unwrapping her
an undulating, whispering bundle of lace and linen
No awkward peeling back of pantyhose
She is old-school, The Book of Betty (Grable, Page, and Boop)
He leafs tenderly through the endless pages of her body
The journal of her journey to this timeless moment
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore, Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik
Delicious… “the endless pages of her body.. the “journal of her journey” ah reading and sensuality both transformative and trancendental 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Pearl, what a beautiful response, thank you! I’m telling you, I was on half.com today, ordering me some Neruda (I have to use Barnes and Noble like a library, but I always buy a coffee and nosh to support the place).
Dee
this is too awesome to leave alone lol – I LOVED it. You need to fix the line where it says “he hand on her hip”. I know you meant his (if you are like me you type faster than you think 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Good eye, Dee. As a copy editor, I know it’s always best to have a second pair of eyes. But also glad you appreciated the sensuality of it, wink!
Big_Stew
Really confident literal writing. I love ‘the subtle confidence of a true lover’ – that line is inspired and rang true with me. Sex and sensuality, even lust is depicted here as something beautiful; a real achievement.
Sharp Little Pencil
I was reading a lot of Pablo Neruda that night! Think he reached across the years and the universe and awakened that sensual streak in me. Your statement about sex, sensuality, and lust a real compliment. Thanks so much, Stew! I’ll email you a comment on your poem… Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Sigh…………..Romance, for those of us who live vicariously:) Good one.
Sharp Little Pencil
THanks, Sherry! Now go out there and get less vicarious! My advice: Start with a good garter belt…! (wink) Amy
Ellen
Amazing Amy, I loved the layers of details you gave and the ones you left out ;-D
So much sensual stirring, Great Job! I haven’t read this poet, but after reading your incredible work…I think I will!
Merry Christmas to You n’ Yours~
1sojournal
Now, this is what I call sense imagery taked to a beautiful conclusion. You got this old woman fanning herself, but refusing to leave, lol. I love it.
Elizabeth
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m telling you, I got ‘the vapors’ just writing it, and I was sitting in Barnes and Noble!!
Mary
Whew, this poem is hot, hot, hot. Beautifully expressed!!
Sharp Little Pencil
I had a hot flash just writing it! Don’t know where that came from. Blame Pablo Neruda, he got me all stirred up! Thanks, Mary = A