Snapshot of a Conversation
By Bill Burns

The ordinary woman
     is zebra striped
The better to hide
     behind Venetian blinds
Her friend beside her
     finely carved
     from a block of ivory soap

The hunter man
     is crouching on the couch
     muscles clenched
Nerve nets dragging the deep waters
     under the ripples of conversation and debate
His rival for
     the woman bearing the golden fleece
The man of strong arms
     who laughs thunderously
Beside the Christmas card virgin
     and the pineapple