PARTY-POOPER

Resource added
PARTY-POOPER 
by J. A. Emanuel

Pyjama parties, come-as-you-are bashes, 
then this one, on his patio, 
a fairyland where stones wore colors, 
lamps wore breathing skirts, 
and ladies wore outlandish masquerades.

An up-and-down-the-stairs night, 
his smile forecast--
costumes coming loose with hands to help, 
masks and bands stretched up or down, depending. 
Then SHE appeared.

A stranger, he felt, trespasser no: 
her walk belonged; 
she carried treasure, it would seem, 
from antennas shimmering on her hair 
down to headlines braided into sandals. 
From slender waist to naked thighs 
she wore a cardboard box 
mashed and taped to simulate a globe, 
the earth, its continents clipped and pasted on 
from maps and airline magazines.

Bravo! he thought, 
imagining his hands on Ghana end Nigeria, 
slipping up to Paris and Versailles, 
the magnet of those regions 
pulling him toward her 
until he saw them, front and rear, 
linked by black bands of crepe 
that crinkled these red-painted words 
with every move she made:
"SAVE ME! SAVE ME"

He stopped, reached backwards without turning; 
music, as if on signal, rose, and arms danced him away. Laughter frolicked into rumba, samba, tango, can-can, 
but nobody danced with the earth 
or saw her slowly disappear, 
majestic through the darkness on the grass.

Full description

Poem written by Emanuel narrates a myserious stranger who infiltrates a party.

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    376 kB
  • container title
    James A. Emanuel Papers
  • creator
    James A. Emanuel
  • issue
    BOX 5 FOLDER 5, Deadly James, draft A, 1981-1990 (2 of 2)
  • rights
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • rights holder
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • version
    1986