Let us not consign it
to the con men, addicts, and sociopaths alone.
No. It is currency for all of us
with aspects of ourselves we want to hide.
Me, I used it many times
at lovely Gloria's expense.
Eyes brown and liquid and long-lashed
her bottom beautifully curved and soft
skin that sun turned a golden tan
she was also at the top in school—
she gave herself to core and to elective
and (amazingly) to me.
Slave to hormones and hungry for experience
I wanted her and wanted more.
Pretending I was home on Friday nights
to get work done
she also stayed at home—
so much she trusted, so much she loved me.
Till finally I broke with her—
not so much for any other—as I realize now—
but at least in part because
I wanted freedom from my own deceit.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem