Origins, Volume eight, fourth issue

Herewith, the latest selection from dusted-off published poetry and short fiction, circa 1970s vintage and beyond....

Did You Know?

Did you know
that the Sea cucumber
to deflect a pursuer
can regurgitate
its stomach?

And did you know
that female monkeys
to appease the males
in their belligerency
turn backside up
in coy invitation?

Did you know
that when you thunder
through the peace
of my existence
I offer myself
to placate the beast.

The Sea Cucumber
grows a new stomach
and survives. The
monkey raises the fruit
of her propitiatory act.

And did you know?
I am armed with love.

c. 1978 Rita Rosenfeld
published in Origins, December 1978