regressive

A female for four fingers
 (none of whom I want);
one for the thumb
 (who doesn't want me)

Wiggling my fingers
 dancing with
  marionettes,
I can't flex the thumb

Picturing the
 man she'd rather have:
  tall, broad-shouldered,
   long hair pulled back---
He'd make her laugh
 (in all the ways I cannot)
demand little, pull her in
 to worlds of adventure...

She'd sit on her bed and
 dream in his absence
  (as I do in hers);

_He'd_ certainly not
 brood and muse
not
 suck up hours
  gassing off---

He'd undoubtedly have
 a female for each finger
  (but she would be his
    hard-won
     favorite)
Would enjoy dancing with his
 marionettes
  (not torment himself
    as do
     I,
   pulling at the immobile).

Only
 I'd have thought
  he'd be
   male.

Does that make me
 regressive?

          -- CSA, 2 May 2000, 1:05pm