Poetry by William F. Buford

Tender straight 2/22/03

Bath robe
There’s a rub!

Sitting straight and solid as she needs to be to plunge straight ahead
in her chair, what will it take to get her out of it?
not moving

each of the necks of her arms rests on arm rests
lengthwise, always chaired right up tight
the way you want to be alone

like you do when you’ve just made it all into some fine thing,
the way you want it, laureate lady,
setting it all up straight ahead,

Miss Liberty, ruler and ruled, whatever you want
folded, sculpted clean, steel-welded and framed,
bolt upright riveted to this watchtower turret

this movement maintained without breathing
this robed, unruffled, movement of

all the time it takes to disrobe you
of what you always never were.