Rotterdam & Dumbrovsky

MODEL OR ROCK STAR?

Une Histoire Fantastique en Pentametre Iambique

By Izzy Ess of Fancifulness

I thought she was a model or a star

Of stage or screen.  I passed her on the street

In front of her apartment, that I used

To visit frequently, as recently

As half a year ago.  I looked behind

Me for a glimpse of her back side.  It was

As lovely as her front.  She turned to look

Directly at me.  “Aren’t you going to say,

‘Hello?’” she asked.  I must have looked dumbfounded,

Which I was.  She moved her dark sunglasses

To her forehead and she asked, “We used

To be good friends, eh?  Art thou angry at

My having kicked thee out that Saturday

In May?”  I looked at her with brand new eyes

And realized the voice was of Elaine

Dombrovsky, but the body was brand new.

Then, finally, I recognized her hazel

Eyes and luscious mouth, the tiny gap

Between her two front teeth and shapely ears

That would invite a tonguing during foreplay,

Every time we watched TV or listened

To Scheherazade.  Her sleek, tight-fitting,

Silken black dress was revealing, as

It had a neckline which extended to

Her navel.  And, there was a slit from her

Short hemline that showed me, and many others

On the street, one shapely thigh to great

Advantage, plus two calves and narrow ankles

That befit a ballet dancer, like

Pavlova.  She wore spike-ed heels that made

Her taller than she used to be and diamond

Earring studs that still invited nibbling.

She waited patiently while I admired

Her, up and down.  I tried to keep my voice

Controlled and asked, “Elaine?”  “Oh yes, Van Rotterdam,

It’s me!”  She smiled that tantalizing smile

Of hers that made me fall in love with her

Two years ago.  I asked, “What happened to

That extra weight you carried when you almost

Married me?”  Her eyes were twinkling as

She said, “When I became aware I’d sent

Away the gifts you always had for me,

The love and understanding, I was shocked

And couldn’t eat.  I found myself admitting

That I started looking glamourous.

My appetite for food and male companionship

Was falling but the compensations

Were a fitter me, attracting much

More sideways glancing from the men and women

That I passed, in hallways and out on

The street.  I got promotions at the office

Where I worked and now I am, executively,

More successful than I ever

Was before.  Van, don’t I look spectacular,

If I may say, myself?”  I nodded

Reflexly.  I sensed that my Elaine

Had had a major transformation with

More confidence and much less panic than

She used to have.  I missed her and I wondered

If she missed me, too.  Before I could

Remark on this, she asked, “Would you like to

Spend some time with me, if you’re free this evening?

Don’t you feel we need some time together

To catch up?”  I quickly said, “Why, yes,

In fact, the evening’s free for me, as well.”

That was about ten years, ago.  I’m sure

She loves me just as much as I love her.

I’m grateful that our parting on that Saturday

In May made both of us aware

That we had lots of life and love to share.

It feels like we will be together for

Our lifetimes, and thereafter, eh?  So be

It and twelve Hallelujahs, and OK!

THE END

© izzy sommers, md

Welland, Canada

August 16, 2013