The Celibate Poem by RIC BASTASA

as expected the celibate
has written a poem about a desert
the listener junks it
for it makes her feel thirst and gives
a hint on death

the poem is revised
speaking now about the princess bathing
in the oasis
singing
attracting the black bird perched on
the date palm

she rises from the water
her breasts supple to the wind
she is waiting for the horse riding Bedouin
to carry her
to his kingdom

the reader is overjoyed in this
and sheds
the tears of joy