She treasures her sphincter's tightness
as some do pearls,
others cars --
but nevertheless aware
if she continues living long enough
it will loosen,
and during dinner party conversation --
made livlier by candles --
with its quaint flutter of sound
will cause her to bite into her lower lip
as she struggles not to glance around.
She's aware that must come -- if
she lives that long --
that
and not having any man at that table
want afterwards to accompany her anywhere
he can slide her panties down
in order to see what's what.
Reid Bush has had poems published in a great number of literary journals over the years, most recently in Devil Blossoms. He lives with his family in Kentucky.