A Red-Figured Cup of the Onesimos Painter
Robert Kelly
She cant be more than 19
& spreads her legs joyfully
to her skinny old lover,
he gestures
at her trim belly & wide open lap.
He is dark & looks
in bad shape. Behind his back
he hides a dildo
just in case--
she is so young & open, her almost smile
is so happy, more wonderful even
than her firm breasts & lifted thigh.
The old man comes on
in eager doubt
he is a satyr but his day is past.
It is St Paul
doubting his flesh
& all flesh with it
damned to imperfection.
But her eager smile
will not measure him,
it is not a performance, not a test,
she is open & he
is welcome.
Just let him get inside her
& there will be no death.