SUKI HOLLYWOOD

invitation to the fourth space

(this poem is formatted in three narrow columns across the page. This allows (potentially) the reading across the columns as well as straight.)

I stand in front of the tapestry and recall

you’d wondered if I would weave it with you. 

            ‘Will you be the thread?’ 

I was surprised: if you would be the thread then I, 

I thought, 

must be the hand.

            ‘Yes,’ you’d said. ‘I will be the thread, and so will you.’ 

            I’d thought then of the two of us woven together through the fabric.

I was repulsed by the cold lightening river I saw, one which 

I thought 

would obliterate you. 

I’d declined your invitation to weave, yet the tapestry had been woven without me. 

I follow your thread with my finger, it is not enough, so

I taste you with my tongue: 

turmeric,

 paprika,

garam 

masala, blood. 

I eat.

(possible reading across the columns)

I’d thought then of

garam

the two of us woven together

masala, blood.

through the fabric,

I eat.

I stand in front of the

I was repulsed by the

tapestry and recall

cold lightening river I saw,

you’d wondered if I would

one which

weave it with you.

I though

‘Will you be the

would obliterate you.

thread?’

I’d declined your

I was surprised: if

invitation to weave, yet the

you would be thread then

tapestry had been woven

I,

without me.

I though,

I follow your thread

must be the hand.

with my finger, it is not

‘Yes,’ you’d said. ‘I

enough so

will be the thread, and so will

I taste you with my

you.’

tongue:

turmeric,

paprika,