Live Encounters Poetry & Writing 16th Anniversary Volume Three
November- December 2025
Naked Truths, a pantoum, poems by Alexis Rhone Fancher.
Naked Truths, a pantoum
“I can see you trust me,” he smiles.
I stand naked before him, pirouette.
I am a butterfly empaled on a pin.
He watches my struggle, watches me spin.
I stand naked before him, pirouette.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
He watches my struggle, gives me a look.
“Babe, he says.“You’re an open book.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
He doesn’t even know my real name.
“Babe, he says.“You’re an open book.”
But my soul is missing; my soul he took.
He doesn’t even know my real name.
.I’m just a butterfly empaled on a pin.
My soul is missing; my soul he took.
“Trust me,” he says. “I wrote the book.”
First Taste Haiku
When she opened like
a ripe fig, I nibbled her
reticence – sweet fruit.
“Do I know you,?” she asked.
Late Night Confession: A Love Poem
I touch my body when you’re asleep. I watch you breathe, stroke myself
in tandem with your chest’s rise and fall. I play with my breasts while you
dream, revel in the softness of my skin. I take your hand, trace my areola,
tease the nipple into a pinpoint of desire. I lead you to those secret spots;
there’s breathing room inside them. Sometimes I struggle for air, caught
between inhale and ex.
I confess:
I get myself off almost better than even you, my love. I own the speed record
for self-satisfaction, world wide – 0 to 60 in 2 minutes, flat. I know the
short cuts, the no-fumble never fail techniques. But I love that you explore,
and yes, fumble, seeking out my tender places.You’re the best lover, hands
down, I’ve ever had, and that includes women and three-ways, even a flat
out orgy or two, (although it’s been a while) preferring our one on one
dalliances to anything else. Caught in the upbeat rhythm of you and me, I
pleasure myself. When I do, I think of you.
© Alexis Rhone Fancher
Alexis Rhone Fancher is published in Best American Poetry, Rattle, Verse Daily, The American Journal of Poetry, Plume, Diode, Slipstream, and elsewhere. She’s authored eleven poetry collections, most recently EROTIC: New & Selected (2021), and BRAZEN (2023), both from NYQ. TRIGGERED, a “pillow book,” was published by MacQueen’s in 2023. Coming up in early 2026: A photo-portrait book of over 100 Southern California poets (Moon Tide Press), and SinkHole, a chapbook of twenty-five “sister” pantoums (MacQueen’s). A multiple Best of the Net and Pushcart nominee, Alexis recently won BestMicroFiction 2025. Find her at https://www.alexisrhonefancher.com/