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Market Day in Al-Karak, South Jordan (Villanelle) by zodiac
We'd gone about a week before the sight
Of fishwhite legs in shorts disgusted us,
Stirring our noonday fever-doze; were white
Sausages, wet hoglegs, milling in the bright
Glassy gas-laden glare beside a dusty bus.
Oh, we'd gone about a week before the sight
Stopped us cold; but it was enough, and despite
Ourselves we chafed with a weird white lust, because
Stirring our soft Saharan dreams were white
Slick thighs, somehow more obscene than all the tight
Or loose nude skin to which we'd been accustomed. But
We'd gone about a week before the sight
Was there, bored and shameless; and we stared as might
Sea-folk at the stockinged calves of conquistadors;
Till they'd gone about a week - before the sight
Stirring imported fever-dreams gleamed white
As innumberable shrill advancing blunderbuss.
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