Lori Lamothe

Revolution in the Back Bay

I want to fall with you out of loosestrife vernacular
into words resembling intimacy.
Out of dream into bread.
Out of fucking into salt.
Out of love into taste.

Say yes off the cuff.
Say yes to no.
Think or don’t think
as long as you stand beside me
when I tear the heads off the roses
and scatter the red across polished floors.

Let the maitre d’ come running.
Let the married man stare.
Let his mistress look away as her glass
slides off the table into pieces.

I’m warning you now—
escape by candlelight involves a flock of napkins
and a pinch of pepper thrown over the wrong shoulder.

Take my hand.
Let running become us.
Let night fling open all its doors.

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Lori Lamothe's fourth book, Tulip Fever, is forthcoming in fall 2022 from Kelsay Books. Her work has appeared in Calyx, Hayden's Ferry Review, The Journal, The Literary Review and elsewhere. A four-time Pushcart nominee, she lives in New England with her family and two rescue huskies.