Tommy passing Nana’s room
hears her say
can you help me
with my corset?

sure
he says
walking into her room
a cigarette hanging

from the corner
of his mouth
what do you want doing?
he asks

can you pull it tight for me?
and she offers him
the two corset strings
and he take them

between his fingers
and gives a pull
she breathes in
and holds it there

her arms by her side
her face vacant
as if she’s awaiting
something to happen

her mouth slightly open
he holds the strings tight
studies her eyes
the curl of hair

the way her mouth is open
her arms by her side
thinking how beautiful she is
how he’d not noticed before

smelling her perfume
trying to place
the make and kind
that’s it

she says
can you tie it there?
sure
he says and ties the strings

behind her back
his nose a few inches
from her naked shoulder
breathing in her scent

wanting to kiss the flesh
the neck
the ear
to put his hands

upon her hips
that’s done
he says
tight as a miser’s purse

thank you
she says
that’s much better
and kisses his cheek

and says
aren’t you the man
from upstairs?
yes that’s right

he says
do you play the saxophone
that I hear?
yes the alto sax

he mimics a saxophone
with his hands
and runs his fingers
along imaginary keys

usually I’m taking a bath
when I hear you
she says
or lying in bed

your sounds sinking
through the ceiling
oh sorry if it disturbs
he says

gazing at her small ****
under the cloth
I love the haunting sounds
she says

they sound so sad
as if your soul
were speaking
or calling from across

an abyss
he gazes at her neck and chin
her moving mouth
the pink of tongue

the sparkling eyes
yes
he says
that wide abyss

wanting to hold her tight
and place
upon her moving lips
a hot lips kiss.