It’s how your arm commits to this bend like an arcing wire at 2 am you reach and touch my ribcage I fall how Constantinople fell I am one inch off the ground, lifted I shimmer as from a draft that comes from the gesso of nowhere And tracing the fine bones on your hand like a madeleine 4 lines radiate toward fingers plaited by veins that feel so softly like the rolled hem of a handkerchief and hardly touching now I play one like a tiny silver string I press your hand with mine as if each finger could align with every rib: and pulses through each fingertip dots and dashes spell your intent received inside again a draft comes from that sweet of nowhere flickers me This is the line you trace: the Titian whisper of my spine you are an opiate, you are closing upon myself I want to say jazz, and no, that’s not it it’s you, electrolier luminesce in me

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Julie Ritter was one of the lead singers and main songwriters of the Los Angeles rock band, Mary's Danish. This summer she released her first solo album, Songs of Love and Empire, and is now working on a book of poetry and stories. Her spoken word/poetry CD, Medicine Show, was released on New Alliance/SST Records in 1995.

She recently completed her B.A. in French Literature at U.C.L.A. after taking a ten year spring break. When she is not playing soccer, she composes music for film, commercials and television. She lives in Southern California with her husband and their white dog.

Julie can be found online at http://www.julieritter.com.