The cabin door flew open
                        the women fell out
it is not known whether
                       she fell on land or sea
the man’s grave
grave face

who were they

undoubtedly they knew tender moments
between sex and well-dressed courtesy -

men are tender with women
not passion-violent
when they are happy in general
and she —- impossible to be grateful
without showing it
before the earth fell away
that they went out on Sunday to see.


 = Shelley Johnson