SHARKS IN THE WA TE R

SHARKS IN THE WAT ER

Each and every morn

I make my way with my cane

Trying not to fall

My goal

The community pool

I work these muscles

Tired and worn

To fight the pain

Plaguing me

Resurrection of the body 

From night’s sleep

In atrophy

I’m no fool

I know the rule

Only the fit survive

This malady of mine

In my Tommy Bahama tropical bathing suit

Yellow, red, aquamarine

Tanned

Blond and blue-eyed 

Sinews  rippling, glistening

Ondulating

Under a Palm Beach  sky

Tattoo of dragon wings 

Across shoulders broad

And wide

Back descending to a well-cut

Waist

I am an Adonis

A Nordic wonder of this place

Ready

To do battle

Once again

To 

Release me from the chattel

Of

An  insidious paralasys

Alone

Oblivious to the rest

Of the world

 My mind sleeps

And

I meditate 

Deep under icy blue waters

Clear and free

I  swim in my private eternity

When

Suddenly

Lifting my head to catch air

 I see

There

Red ruby lips coming at me

Teeth sharp and white 

Smiling clickety- clack 

Eyes fluttering in the ecstasy

 Of

An antcpated attack

And

Victory

Truly 

Widows charming and bright

Lovely

 Merry one and all

Ready to bury

Husband , three or,four

Like sharks in the water

 They

Smell fresh meat in chlorine

Young and lean

Fair game.

Eighty three to one hundred and five

They are all actively still alive

Swimming in packs

Just before the kill

They watch

As

I head for high waters

Lest one of the  many

Grabs me  by the neck 

Shakes me dry

While I’m still wet

And
 
Throws me into an old net

Knit

With strands silver and  gold
 

You understand

It has little to do

With my extraordinary pulchritude

Or

Masculinity

You see

I am still breathing

Have all my teeth

And

Drive

EPILOGUE

When all is said and one

These charmers are like no one

They do posses assets

and

Endowments

That keep them afloat

No need for a sarety boat.

I have been saved from drowng

Once or twice

By these fair maidens

But

At a price

One black eye

A cracked rib

Near asphyxiation

Yet

Glad to live

To tell it