After Gardening
by C.E. Chaffin
Young Sinatra's on the CD.
I can't think of a contrast more extreme
than his silky tenor and the rude jays.
"One for my baby and one more for the road."
I play the music low because my love is deaf.
That way she can catch my sound
to go with my moving lips
when I sing along for her.
Last night we spooned with my hand on her mons
and I swelled and craved
yet when I flexed my knees
my legs cramped and awkwardly
(with hand in place)
I had to stretch, moving the dog
off the bed. You can guess
what didn't happen.
C.E. Chaffin, M.D., FAAFP, edited The Melic Review www.melicreview.com for eight years prior to its hiatus. Widely published, he has written literary criticism, fiction, personal essays, and has been the featured poet in over twenty magazines. In the last ten years he's had over 500 pieces published. Credits include The Alaska Quarterly Review, The Pedestal, The Philadelphia Inquirer Book Review, Rattle, and Best Poem Online. His new volume, "Unexpected Light: Selected Poems and Love Poems 1998-2008" is now available through Diminuendo Press at www.cechaffin/light.html Blog: www.cechaffin.blogspot.com.