Marriage Bed
Aug 27 2008


They were newlyweds,
in an age of reticence
and shame.
The first night
they kissed slow and hard,
undressed in the dark,
and made love
undercover.
And like most newlyweds, back then
their passion was inexpert, tentative;
their lust
incontinent.

So they came to know one another by touch
by scent
by the sound of her breath,
lying in bed, next to him.
Which I find exceptional
— so much intimacy,
yet such self-consciousness.

When I think of beauty
I think of colour
and light.
I think of nudes by famous masters,
and statues of naked gods.
And they do, too
I imagine.
Every night, under cover of darkness
giving himself to some classic beauty,
and she
to some immortal.
Mere flesh transformed
by love.