Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Dressing Gown

THE DRESSING GOWN 



“Highsmith’s closest friend
presented me with a gift—
Pat’s old dressing gown”
—Andrew Wilson, Beautiful 
Shadow: A Life of Patricia 
Highsmith
______________

I tried the gown on—
it was like slipping under
the skin of Patricia Highsmith

It was dark blue wool—
with black, blue and
beige stripe cuffs
___________

Its lining was a rather—
fine twill with a soft
tasseled waist cord

Purchased at Harrods—
strands of grey hair still
nestled around the neck
_____________

A strange air of—
otherworldliness even
suggested her nearby

Taking my clothes off—
so I could feel the gown
next to my bare skin
____________

Easing my arms—
through the same soft
dark spaces and

Tying the waist-band—
feeling the nuances of
her gown around me
_________

I looked down at—
my hands and they
were Highsmith’s hands

I picked up a pen—
and I began writing
like she would have
____________

I listened to her—
most intimate thoughts
flowing through me

I felt Tom Ripley—
doing drag there in
that Berlin disco
_________

But it was that—
exquisite feeling of
Pat’s soft dressing gown

Against my own—
naked skin that really
turned me on






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