Opaque / nancy devine

A strand of cotton woven between
Lolita’s toes
Humbert Humbert paints
enamel on those nails:
a star-drop of carmine
or salmon song.
In black and white,
any color he wishes—
sapphire-chartreuse
or the shadow
of his naked thoughts.
.
He wants to kiss
her arch:
“the tip of the tongue
taking a trip of three steps…”,
use it as his cup
for coddled cream.
.
Still it’s only cinema;
cut. Humbert doesn’t stop:
Lolita’s ankle
his throat, his white, white
love.
.
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