In the Venusberg (John Collier, 1901)

In the bedroom, you were as Venus. You

locked the door and walked back, raising

your arms and enjoying that

I suddenly, demonstrably

forgot everything of

the outside world.

You ran your hand across my stomach and

any lingering remembrance was

replaced by the bright spot

in your eye.

But, Atlas, you cannot quit

tenting the sky—the weight that leads

your shoulder to slump will find you.

You cannot escape what needs tending; you

cannot expect the tinny click of the

brass button lock

to hold all of it

                        out

                                 forever.

--RFRY, 09 Jun. 06

This is a version of In the Venusberg.