O that tender voice, the prim
lips and smooth cheeks, the warmth
and softness of fingers touching
other compliant fingers—how luxurious,
how beautiful it is
to desperately need
those things which we
cannot afford to need.
Sunrises, sunsets, swaying
gardens of late roses and
lollipop dahlias—all those classes
of prize are different;
not prerequisites, exactly
but novelties, gewgaws—free upgrades
to your basic Food-Water-Shelter-And-
Warm-Someone-Else Package.
Though of course, you
still wind up paying
for every single one of those
too—the presumption being
that you'll find yourself desperate-
ly happy to do so
once you've seen and
handled a few.