Photographer: Judith Bender-Jura
1.
Mary, the one without
a Halo – a married whore,
found unconditional love
hiding in the soles of His feet.
After the fact – that
pseudo relationships
took precedence for a while,
she washed Him clean
for no other reason
than to show respect, reverence
for one that would give
His soul for her.
2.
My feet are bare, scarred
by broken beer bottles and red
blood paint – tips to toes,
manicured to perfection once
upon a time. his feet
are cold; numbness held in a vice –
like grip, as she works her way up
past calves & quads seeking
warmth in the apex, comfort
sucking a thumb – print. embedded
ecstasy applying pressure
where it hurts, to ease the pain.
3.
She thinks the sun shines outback, cradling his head, healing hands
mindful of circular breathing; muscles
& tendons ache for release.
Mary doesn’t mind manipulating
bones, fingering the spaces
in – between, redirecting blood flow
to all the right places, kneading
stretches & burns ping – back,
sending signals like sparks, endorphins
take up the slack, ushering in sweet
sensation & nipples peek. there’s
nothing special about Mary, knowing
a thing or two, making money serving
more than a hand – full of life’s little pleasures. making hay while the sun
shines requires little effort on her part,
preferring to let it slide, up past
the point of no return. those days,
over now before they really took hold.
4.
Mary looks at him spent, kinesthetic
energy on standby as he reconsiders
where he stands. the party’s over,
someone has to clean up, Mary
learning to love the hand
that feeds her, wishing sometimes
for independence and silence, in –
between phone calls. those days
are over, up for tender for the next
wave of youthful antagonists who seek
an existence un – beholden. love
knows no rules of engagement.
© Copyright 2016, Jodine Derena Butler & ‘Poetry Out West’. All Rights Reserved
Poetry Out West 