Astonishments

             Astonishments

You don’t want just astonishments.  They bore

You, not at first, but thrills of newness nag

Away until in later years the gore

Of slashing at the lovely starts to drag

Your feelings down and then at last you wish

For something basic, true instead.  The spot,

That beauty spot, applied with careful swish

Upon the lady boy’s cheek, is not

Of interest your life.  You want the green

And other boring colors of your home

In childhood.  Special effects and obscene

New titillation look like scummy foam

At best.  You want a solid view that you

Can trust like mother sitting in your pew.