Still Life with Nude
It is not good for Man to be alone.
I shall make him a helper.
Her world a womb rimmed with ripe flesh
plump plums, bulging bulbs
lemons, limes, each an eye
apples, cherries, seed-speckled berries
long, breezy, lazy garden leaves
Bored, she yawns, an orchard of ennui
her fingerprints absent from the face
of creation—no voice, no say
an object, an ornament
pears, persimmons, pomegranate trees
Asleep, hammocked, his penis a prune
her mate, her master, naps away the day
no field to hoe, no flock to tend
no rake, no spade, no shovel
every day a Saturday
Her small palm weighs the risk
sweet flowered flesh, firm, inviting
no serpent need seduce her
one bite, one nibble, one luscious lick
wisdom, winter, wrinkles, worms
The Henniker Review, 2007
