NUMBER 14

THE PLEASURE PALACE

Surrounded by river rocks

gathered from famous west coast rivers,

the Pleasure Palace I share

with my wife prepares

for this spring morning with

mature specimen trees

showing fully opened blossoms

to the sun. Last night

putting my arms around

my beloved, she says,

When you get up tomorrow

pull the flannel sheets

from the bed and replace them

with cotton ones

to keep us cool

during the hot days.

Jim Bodeen

6 May 2019