RUTH Z. DEMING - AT BELLA SALON AND SPA OCEAN CITY, N J

​Ruth Z. Deming, winner of a Leeway Grant for Women Artists, has had her work published in lit mags including Hektoen International, Creative Nonfiction, Haggard and Halloo, and Literary Yard. A psychotherapist and mental health advocate, she runs New Directions Support Group for people with depression, bipolar disorder, and their loved ones. Viewwww.newdirectionssupport.org. She runs a weekly writers' group in the comfy home of one of our talented writers. She lives in Willow Grove, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her blog is www.ruthzdeming.blogspot.com.

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AT BELLA SALON AND SPA
OCEAN CITY, N J

Such accolades for my feet
I could hardly believe it!
A tap dancer like Ann Miller?
A modern dancer like Twyla Tharp?
Or just someone who enjoys her
"Blackened Tilapia" platter
at Spatafors, Ocean City,
New Jersey

The Nail Salon and Spa
was richly detailed
a majestic place for
all patrons
Happiness, I read with
surprise, is what you
want on vacations.

I plunged my unsandaled
feet into the hot water
then black-haired Lexi
began the operation

So much to do.
Scrubbed the soles
the ankles and heels
with purple cleansing
powder. Pain turns
to pleasure.

Orgasmic!

Softly towel dry
and then apply.
Pink nail polish.

How steady are her hands.
A regular van Gogh.
Pink as lovely as
strawberry rhubarb pie.

Proudly I leave the
salon. Might my best
guy propose to me
to keep those toes
all to himself?

Have you seen her?
The girl with
the sexy pink toes?
Have you seen her?
The girl with
poetry in her toes?

Yes, says a deep voice,
and she's mine all mine.