Jalousie in Natural Light—Avant la Rêve
For Mrs. Pat Silver and Bob Stubbs
She chose a piece called “Jalousie” for flute
And keyboard that was strange to both the boys,
But then the both of them were teens. To suit
The ceremony “Jalousie” had poise
But sounded modern, strange, and out of place.
Bob played the keys, and Phillip twiddled on
His slickened instrument. The two made space
Expand as they would do again at dawn
In bed a few months later. Did she choose
This music knowing truths about these two?
She might as well have chosen bendy blues
But that would not have fitted in the pew
Of Christian education. Had she known
Their truth, she might have left this all alone.
~ Phillip Whidden
