Archaic, outmoded,
‘gauche,’ obsolete
O, the invective employed
a lesser man would defeat
Yet unintimidated, he held his ground
for he knew his principle was sound
Adam viewed the fish, the animals, the birds
(paired up so nicely, he perceived)
Then, whoosh! out rushed his shocking words
'Please, for a partner with whom to conceive
I request MY complement, a lady named Eve'
When you loved me, you were in absentia
most days -- then, the phone call,
and the champagne, cooling
in a bucket at some classy venue
or another, of your choosing. But first,
came the grilling on the hot-seat barstool,
as it were, designed to disillusion me
that I would matter much, underlining
how easily you could leave without
regret. Then, shifting gears,
you'd give it up, because I was a thorough-
bred, gracefully jumping your hurdles,
rewarded with your pleasure,
imagining me unintimidated, placated
by a shower of gifts: baubles of silver
and turquoise from Mexico, a gold bracelet
of singular design, a spangled scarf
I wrapped around my nude body
before lovemaking, charming you with
the child in me. But, mostly, I remember
we scribbled on each other's backs
as we lay together in the dark. I never
guessed your messages, nor you mine.
More vulnerable than you ever dreamed,
I wrote "I love you" on your skin,
knowing fingers were blind.
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