Tremofobia I: Naked

for assignment: meditation on the theme "tremofobia," an irrational fear of earthquakes

I used to like sleeping naked,

my skin caressed by soft sheets

and perfumed with powder.

I liked the sensation of warm heavy

blankets like promises whispered

by my lover, and the chill as

autumn approaches

and the air outside invades small

personal spaces with winter’s

authority. But then I moved to

Guatemala, where the ground

sometimes heaves itself into the

air out pure jealousy for those

of us who can sleep through a

night. I realized- quickly- very

quickly- that with my luck, if I

disrobe before bed, I will one day

be the naked gringa found dead

outside of hypothermia after

a major earthquake collapses

my home; or in bed for stubborn

refusal to jump shouting into

the frigid air of Xela.

Author's Note

for an assignment for the Xela poetry club Casa los Altos. First of 3 poems on the same theme, different approaches. Translated from my original in Spanish.

Reviews

[Chris]

When is it EVER irrational to fear an Earthquake?!?

Chuckling here... The embarrassment of nakedness is only heightened by the death of a thousand cuts as glass and SHARP thingies rain and bounce willfully around a person. Now the afterwards part could be ..."interesting" unless a Gentleman/woman enwrapped you in a blanket...