Perversion

[tectak]

Perversion

I can feel my age
like a nervous adolescent undoing a bra.This is rather a good opener more because it defines the tone of the whole poem. I normally hack away at punctuation but readily accept that if the line is structured well enough, punctuation diminishes in importance...here, there is but a slight problem which has more to do with defining the metaphor as just that, or stating a fact. In other words, the character feels his age because he IS a nervous adolescent undoing (her) bra. There is, then, a failure of expressed intent but it is a small nit. So: "I can feel my age, (I AM) a nervous adolescent about to undo her bra." fits better in to the scape of the next and following stanzas. 

Do I kiss her neck,
turn off the lights,
or take off my pants?Yes to this. A great hesitancy. Of course, the order matters not BUT it is of exagerrated importance to the character...so this works well. It would work better if the next line was not offset into splendid isolation. Surely, it belongs with its source thought. your poem.

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 certaintyOddly odd but strangely normal...a "vague certainty" sounds better than it is. Suggestion only: " I feel with a confirmed certainty that our bodies have limitations". In other words, that vague suspicion of inadequacy has turned in to an uncomfortable truth.
that our bodies have limitations.

I'm scared,Period. Gotta be.
I know this will happen again;
actually, part of me
yearns
for an even worse ending.Good good good. I do hope that the character yearns for an even worse ending if only to derive some comfort from the belief that there COULD BE a worse ending. A great ending.

Good read, Richard...but where is the perversion? The title is demonstrably shaky. Even "Aversion" would make more sense....
This is me liking it.
Best,
tectak