Let's Just Eat Croissants Together
and drift in youth's smooth love
I want to eat breakfast with you
in the park, where we slept all night.
I’d rather that, than spend a night
in a swanky Paris hotel
or trip-it to New York
or feel my heart pounding
before touching my toe
to pirouette-polished floorboards
and dance with the corps de ballet (one day?)
*
I can’t help but inhale the thrilling glint in your eye
that ruffles the smooth contours of your perfect face,
that unravels how I long for you.
I can’t help unravelling because of your love for croissants
jazz
the vibrant cerise dahlia’s
circling our park fountain
*
and repeatedly I yield to us
breathless from our telepathy.
Only I can catch that glint
wet from the cherub spouting water
its marble lips so cold and smooth
even when right above
tender rays of morning sun
sweep over our molten bodies.
We slip out of smooth slumber
still clinging to our moments
like selfish clouds holding onto rain
*
while breakfast croissants fall in pastry flakes
and there seems to be no point to them.
You smile a little on your left side,
leaning on your elbow, brown eyes alive
and I think of consuming you
instead of all the pastries, except
perhaps, the ones from that boulangerie
on Boulevard Saint-Germain—
ones which you haven’t tasted yet.
*
We can travel there together,
float up in a silk air balloon–
scatter crumbs over the park-keeper’s grimace–
sorry we outstayed our welcome
but elated now, to be flying;
aerial dancers, wind combing our hair smooth.
Solemn clouds–softened to tears
sprinkle baptism on our smooth passage
of ephemeral yearnings of youth.
*
What’s the point of all these dalliances?
Stumbling, fumbling, experimenting,
wondering whether this person is the one (he’s not)
to turn our Charlestons into ballet?
Did it matter whether Baryshnikov picked Kirkland
just for the thrill of the flight?
Or do passions cut corners, change direction,
glide, like condors harnessing whatever currents
will carry them best.
*
I’ve no wish to pick over a future
that was never ours;
nor to sequester the history
you won’t find on my CV;
but to claim ownership of shared croissants
would be to gag on all the lustrous
sexy sighs and French kisses
that slid like silk
from our satin-stitched tongues.
*
I don’t want a rusty prison helix
to split our sheet-clean flawless sky
when I look up at you,
slide into your smooth sleep,
dream of breakfast with you.
* * * * *
Inspired by Frank O’Hara Having a Coke with You
* * * * * * * * * *
Teresa Renton has a first-class degree in English Linguistics and Language Creativity. Her work has previously been published in Flash Fiction Magazine, Across the Margin, Stick Figure Poetry, 101 Words, and 50 Give or Take
About the Creator
Teresa Renton
Inhaling life, exhaling stories, poetry, prose, flash or fusions. An imperfect perfectionist who writes and recycles words. I write because I love how it feels to make ink patterns & form words, like pictures, on a page.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Comments (29)
Gorgeous imagery! All emotions blend in beautifully with metaphors and witty remarks. I love love love this poem, probably my favorite so far on Vocal!
Super-stunning, soulful & gorgeous! Your command of the written word is otherworldly! I loved every bit of this! Congrats on your TOP STORY!
Wow this is written so well, with such an easy flow that carries you right through. And I love the metaphors and the choice of words. So many smooth words that make the poem feel, actually feel soft and cozy. So many nice themes of just doing something simple besides doing something over complicated, how the time with the person is enough, even just eating croissants. Excellent stuff!
Best!
nice
Ode to love and beyond. The bards have nothing on you. Congrats on your beautifully written lines of poetry.
J'adore ça ! Good lord woman you can swing a metaphor any which way to YEAH! Stumbling over words to say how much I enjoyed this expression of talent. Phenomenal writing! Masterful!
first of all, congratulations on TS. Now, this poem? omg, it's excellent. Love well said. Again, bravo!
Wonderful work! Anything French and I’m there! Congrats on your top story! 😊👏
beutiful
This is a masterpiece...you are truly gifted, Teresa! Thank you for sharing this with us and what a fine entry. Loved everything about this! Congrats on the TS!
so beauty
Excellent effort! Keep up the superb work—congrats!s 😍
This is so lightly elegant it is bewitching. I am with Heather on satin-stiched tongues. Inspired. There is so much silky goodness in this. It is seriously enchanting. Well done Teresa. Gorgeous writing. 😍
Sweet poem. Congrats on top story!
Beautiful dance on the screen...and I am in the mood for croissants now!
Great work, very evocative and sweet
Back to say congrats on the TS.
Yes! Congratulations on a well-deservide Top Story. Oh, and I finally remembered to hit the heart. lol
I get such a pang of sunny nostalgia from this
So many stunning llines. I really loved the 'our fountain' reference, it really just struck me. Beautifully done and super congratulations on Top story! 🤍
Selfish clouds holding on to rain, I live for lines like that. Loved the sentiment expressed in this.
This is simply gorgeous, and magical. Very well done.
Ooo, I loved the phrase, satin-stitched tongues. This felt so rich and decadent. Tremendous work...I'll be shocked if this doesn't place. Loved it, Teresa :)
Anything that involves food is romantic. Haha. Love this!