Whistle

Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart in
To Have and Have Not (1944):
“You know how to whistle,
don’t you, Steve?" 

Anna did it when she felt afraid,
Snow White did while she worked.
Slim made it sound risque, 
reminding Steve to put his lips 
just so and...blow. A lot of action 
possible within three little dots.
Racy for the times, and sexier
than all the skin on modern
movie screens. Titillating tastes
in black-and-white, G-rated
'cause the sizzle stayed within
imagination. Whistling's never
been the same since Bogey
and Bacall.



(c) Ellen Gillette, 2014