poem of the day 08.02.16

upon watching bruce conner’s

breakaway video for the third time

still i stand there and think

toni basil at age 23 in 1966

and where in the hell did she come from?

having only known her from the mickey video

when i was a kid being weaned on MTV

toni basil in black bra in black pants

cut suggestively in ovals of flesh all over her

she winks then preens for the camera

fingers on lips, wide-eyed with heavy mascara

a mop of raven hair nesting on her head

her mouth an “o” of suggestion

as if wondering how you’ve come across her

in this shadowy room

and when the dance comes on

it’s this cyclone of northern soul

toni basil at age 23 in 1966

the way she moves

now in nothing but a white slip

spinning and gyrating

pirouetting herself into nausea

the camera slowing for her to look smoldering

but vulnerable too and dizzy into its lens

the mark of suggestion gone

the raven hair a wet mop, the mascara running

before we are gone again

dancing into the thunder of music, drums and bass

the slip becoming panties and tits then suddenly naked

toni basil at age 23 in 1966

jumping in and out of the camera

her cunt a jungle of black hair untamed

i blush like a high school boy

this time machine from fifty years ago

get thee to a nunnery

get me to a room of one’s own

as the film begin in reverse

toni basil at age 23 in 1966

moving in backward motion

jumping back from jumping forward

redressing the scene until we are back and preening

and innocent together almost once again

toni basil at age 23 in 1966

she winks at the camera

but i fool myself that she’s breathing just for me.