Poem: Hysteria

Updated May 6, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Hysteria

 As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her  laughter and being part of it, until her teeth were  only accidental stars with a talent for squad-drill. I  was drawn in by short gasps, inhaled at each momentary  recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her  throat, bruised by the ripple of unseen muscles. An  elderly waiter with trembling hands was hurriedly  spreading a pink and white checked cloth over the rusty  green iron table, saying: "If the lady and gentleman  wish to take their tea in the garden, if the lady and  gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden ..." I  decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be  stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might  be collected, and I concentrated my attention with  careful subtlety to this end.