Scumble (from American Poet) by Rae Armantrout
What if I were turned on by seemingly innocent words such as "scumble," "pinky,"
or "extrapolate?"
What if I maneuvered conversation in the hope that others would pronounce these
words?
Perhaps the excitement would come from the way the other person touched them lightly and carelessly with his tongue.
What if "of" were such a hot button?
"Scumble of bushes."
What if there were a hidden pleasure
in calling one thing
by another's name?
What if I were turned on by seemingly innocent words such as "scumble," "pinky,"
or "extrapolate?"
What if I maneuvered conversation in the hope that others would pronounce these
words?
Perhaps the excitement would come from the way the other person touched them lightly and carelessly with his tongue.
What if "of" were such a hot button?
"Scumble of bushes."
What if there were a hidden pleasure
in calling one thing
by another's name?