1 post tagged “arranged marriage”

The Merits of  the Frog Man

would you wed the frog

to have your own gold ball back

and more besides?

for wells are very deep

and other gold must lie

at the murky bottom

he must be very rich this frog

and determined

to have you be his

you are told of the story

of how an old waddler

blossomed into a youth

with arms like dinner rolls

strung together

and breath like plum wine

not this sour weight

beside you in the night

slathering you with kisses

and slime

you keep waiting for

the promised transformation

which does not come

his cold amphibious fingers

find you in the bed

and his sticky tongue

leaps from his lips

to taste you

as well as to devour

the fly buzzing overhead

no more bug problems

and plenty of riches

still you must learn to appreciate

this creature

more female than you

after years in a well

which is a cold womb

you must love that he asks

so little of you

and knows his place

below you even as he fingers

your skin

frog slime is good for the complexion

and he looks at you

with absolute devotion 

in his watery algae-colored eyes

he croaks you songs

for the merest smile

that if understood

would put the bards

to shame

he can survive on such

mere delicacies

as your laughter

and your gloved hand

he's learned not to expect

love and passion

not at his froggy age

Lucy Simpson

Seattle

5/2008