Sharp Relief

naked,
he sits on the low-backed chair
his hands languid on the keyboard
pressing the slow Motown rhythm forward
smiling for the song they share.

naked,
she perches on that low back
her thighs straddling his shoulders
crooning the melody to his curls
falling her tears on his neck.

later,
spent and sweaty, he toys idly with her;
she laughs.
why do you laugh now?he asks (because
it is easy to be with you here like this) why
did you cry before? (because
the intimacy was too sweetdeeptrue
for me to bear).

((c) TLPatten, 1996-2004, all rights reserved)