Spine Shiver

The autumn wind
speaks to me
of love that once ran
wicked through the streets
wild and alive
feeding off MSG
in Chinatown
and tequila in dive bars
on Ludlow
when the biggest sin of all
was rolling out of bed at noon
and brunching till three
on Columbus Avenue NYC
and November knows
so much about sexy sweaters
worn by graduate students
who swoon like textbook cases
of Ivy League psychosis
and I don’t know if you know
but the longer I live
the less I am able to recall
the simple thrill
of a midnight phone call
in a railroad apartment
from a sobbing
Balanchine ballerina
who claimed
I misunderstood
her barefoot dance
on the cold Sandalwood

 

Ivan Jenson is a fine artist, novelist and contemporary poet who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His artwork was featured in Art in America, Art News, and Interview, and has sold at auction at Christie’s. Ivan was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to make a painting titled Absolut Jenson for the brand’s national ad campaign. His Absolut paintings are in the collection of the Spiritmusuem, the museum of spirits in Stockholm, Sweden.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of Poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.