JEANETTE AND PASSION CAUSED

BOYS AND A GIRL AT SCHOOL IN 1962

You guessed Jeanette
liked that kind of music
viewing her from behind
(at the back of class

sitting next to Reynard)
her head would move
with the music
the Beethoven piece

had her in thrall
or so seemed
seeing her
narrow body frame

slowly move
from side to side
like some
skinny snake

(titless Reynard said
she was)
to some charmer's flute  
her head

often times
was recline
to some Chopin
Miss Graham placed

upon the record player
(how old she looked
even then)
and closed her eyes

if you saw her
undressed
Reynard said
(Jeanette

not the teacher)
be like some pencil
thin and shapeless
but there was more

to her to you
something deeper
a certain something
beyond the cloth

of cardigan and skirt
and white blouse
and ankle socks
something of soul

or maybe undefined
that aspect
hanging there
in your 14 year old mind

Reynard whispered
when's this crap
going to end
give me rock

and roll any time
but Jeanette
seemed content
to sit and listen

and move her head
and frame
or wave her thin finger
in the air

as if an invisible
orchestra was there
you viewed her
from the back of class

her dark hair
shoulder length
resting on her back
and narrow frame

the slightly pointed nose
and thin lips
when viewed from profile
when she turned

but secret
like some slow fire
a deeper passion
within you burned.