sex

by Shannon Peil

At some point, your kid
(if you ever have one) will ask you:
'What is sex?'
and what will you tell them?
what exactly would your word choice be?
would you describe it as coldly
and clinically as you could,
using proper scientific terms
and explaining exactly what piece goes where,
and what happens next,
and for what purpose?
or will you use ridiculous comparisons
involving cute animals
and purposefully vague language
that does nothing to alleviate their curiosity?
birds and bees are very interesting, yes
but will your kid have the slightest idea
what you're talking about?

why don't you just tell them the truth?
ramble at them;
sex is a blessed and sanctified union
between two people in love,
properly married,
for the purpose of conception.
in the dark.
it is the repeated thrust
of an erect penis into a woman's vagina
for the simple goal of inseminating an egg.
sex is purely and simply,
penetration.
and oral and cock-rings and soft candies and apologies.
orgies, and threesomes,
and spankings - pillows and candles,
soft whispers, and vibrators
and crying.
it is infidelity,
cruelty, and feeling amazing if only
for a moment. it is addiction and amazement.
sex is rude, and beautiful, and disgusting
it is debased criminal thumps against walls
while everything else ceases to matter.
all the dinners, movies, walks along the pier,
kissing, and courting, and hugging and
sucking and biting and grinding -
they lead up to one thing.
sex.
and be sure to remind them that sex is not love,
love is not sex. it is simply;
sex.

which is forgetting to breathe,
forgetting who or where you are.
it is rude and unkind and impatient and self-serving.
and it is fun.