Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


DRESSED TO KILL by CLARENCE MAJOR

Poet Analysis

First Line: THEY CERTAINLY DO MOVE / WITH GRACE, WITH GREAT STURDINESS

They certainly do move
with grace, with great sturdiness,
these ladies of thin lips
in hats above uneven eyes.

They move without moving.

I look at their eyes,
jewels planted deep in skullbone.
They move them slowly.

I look at their necks,
necks as long as a horse's penis.
On the runway and in public
the women turn slowly, slowly
and they smile death warmly.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org



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