Foreplay by Greta Ehrig
Taking the stairs two at a time like an exuberant
teenager or canine, my upstairs neighbor
sprints to greet his bride. At the end of each
long workday or foray into the world, enthusiasm
seeps through the ceiling and runs down my walls
framing my paintings of loved ones and flowers
long since passed from this life. I find myself
wondering how she, his young wife, likes it — him
suddenly bursting onto the scene of her
sewing projects, books, and Netflix screenings.
Me, I’d prefer a little more delicacy. First, the click
of the key in the lock, then a certain lingering
turn of the knob, the loosening laces and drop
of shoe, shoe, coat, tie, and finally
the slow, sweet ascent that heralds
his face at the door. Art by Kenton Nelson Recommended listening: Someday - The Strokes Links of the Day: Black Contemporary Art Made-up flags by Mariana Abasolo The dreams of an astronaut
Lost at sea: the man who vanished for 14 months