Love Or Use? ... Poem by RIC BASTASA

when she falls in love
at her age now
at 60

after two husbands
and three operations
she falls in love
wholeheartedly to a young man
agile and active
and too caring for her
weak limbs

she declares she has never
experienced this thing ever since

the young man kisses her
from toe to hair
washes her feet
cleans her back
puts lotion to her skin
combs her hair
cooks for her
and does the marketing
and drives her around the
city when she gets too lonely
carries her baggage
takes charge of her businesses
collects the rent of her apartments
and delivers goods for her
buyers...

she is in love
and she boasts that the young man is
too good for her demands
the man is a miracle
God's answer to her prayers
God's gift to her faithfulness



she surrenders everything
her body, her soul,
her bankbook, her properties
her secrets
her biography
her house and stocks

everything, everything,
in the name of love.


the man is good
and when away

secretly shows his
wolfish grin
to the world that now
spins around the
tip of his fingers....