River, from Origin to Mouth

An overture is played at the beginning 
of a ballet to establish the themes. 

The sound where I began was 
the river’s, its going over stones.

Its roar was the orchestra behind 
anything more anyone performed.

White noise of which I was hardly aware 
until leaving and hearing it not there. 

Like white sheets—the standard, 
color you don’t much consider, 

though they were what lay underneath
every movement of your lover. 

*
The rapids, where stones narrow
to an arrow, funnel the flow and its sound 

to a greater intensity. The V shape suggesting 
a nude with one knee bent, thigh angled in,

to shield her modesty. Or maybe you 
are the sort to see the lines leading 

down to meet at a point as drawing the eye in,
attracting attention. What do you think of 

when I say that ouvert, French root 
of the word overture, means open?

In ballet, it refers to positions in which 
the legs are uncrossed, the body splayed. 

*
Ouvert, in the lingerie catalog, labels 
cupless and crotchless garments 

with a discreet term. As a sensual
overture, what I’ll do is remind you

that I was raised by fresh water.  
I observed it brushing against land, 

lifting lacy white riffles to flirt. 
And now, at just the simple thought 

of your mouth, your possible thirst,
and nothing more, this body 

wants to swell, flood, exceed its shores.