……….Well Hung Lover

The naked lover covers his groin
with his left hand, while hanging
by his right from a window sill.
Behind glass, an irate, presumed
husband searches the horizon—
a diminutive blond in bikini
underwear at the rear.
Blue paint ball splatters
and low-grade graffiti
have not ruined the scene.

Gawkers trail past, camera fingers ready—
his poor hand, one remarks.
The embarrassed hand, I think,
covering his recent peccadillo, or
that grinding against sandstone?
The arm keeps taking its punishment.
We know the scene is painted
but still wonder, will his finger tips
give way first, or the elbow joint
where it articulates with the humerus?

————

Sharon M. Carter recently retired from a career in healthcare. Originally from the UK, she lives on the coastal region of the Salish Sea. Published in many literary journals, including Terra Nova, Pontoon, the Raven Chronicles: Take a Stand, Art Against Hate anthology, Ars Medica, Quartet, and One Art. Her poetry book, Quiver, was released in 2022, and Ekphrastic Pastiche, a fusion of poetry and drawings, was published last year. Website: www.sharonmcarter.com.