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