Perversion

[Richard]

Perversion

I can feel my age
like a nervous adolescent undoing a bra.

Do I kiss her neck,
turn off the lights,
or take off my pants?

I want to think my choice matters.

Then it's over:
a mess, an apology,
and I'm red faced.
I feel with a vague certainty
that our bodies have limitations.

I'm scared,
I know this will happen again;
actually, part of me
yearns
for an even worse ending.