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 my taut attention.

You ran your hand across my stomach and

any lingering remembrance of the world—that

there was, indeed, a world—disappeared into the

bright spot of your blue-green eye.

But, alas, Atlas: you cannot quit tenting

the sky. The weight will find its way

back and your shoulders will stoop with it again.

You cannot expect the tinny click of the

brass button-lock

to hold it all out

forever.

--RFRY, 09 Jun. 06

This is a version of In the Venusberg.