A THIN STRAND OF LIGHTS by Ricki Mandeville Editors: Lee Mallory, Michael Miller In "A Thin Strand of Lights," her second book, Ricki Mandeville traces romantic anguish through a number of settings -- smoky jazz clubs, French restaurants on rainy days, the Huntington Beach pier -- while the moon, her favorite symbol, provides a steady backdrop.
	ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ricki Mandeville was born in Germany and has lived in this country since age three. She has been a teacher, a model, a fitness business owner, and is currently a private tutor specializing in language arts and accent reduction. This is her second published collection of poetry. She lives in Huntington Beach and has read her poetry widely at venues around Southern California.

FULL MOON, SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco moon's a sweet deceiver,
lemon lollipop stuck to the skyline,
stray cat prowling the tops of buildings.

As my old Chevy climbs Hayes Hill,
she lays her ambush, ducks behind a row
of skinny Victorians that close ranks
around her like old war buddies.
At the top, she pounces out,
flings herself against my windshield,
spills herself into my eyes

until they see dark miles of prairie
& she's a full, white goddess floating
above coyotes praying out loud,
silvery clumps of sage genuflecting
like a congregation of faded old men.

She rode low and vengeful
alongside our train,
a jealous voyeur at the window,
looking over your shoulder in the berth,
envying the way you touched me,
pouting as our eyes shut her out.

Now she mainlines espresso right to my veins,
keeps me awake and turning until
finally, somewhere above the Pyramid,
she releases me. I dream the rhythm
of the rails, the way her light
paled your flesh as you slept,
your face half hidden in moon shadow,
while I watched...all the way to Phoenix.