The Other Side of Kenneth

 

“A passionate man.” That’s what they said,

somewhere between the sherry and the teas.

The greenest lawn, the finest veg, the longest stemmed

sweet peas – always a winner at the local show.

How could they know? The man who always wore a tie

and tipped his hat to everyone he met. Who every Sunday read,

with measured gravitas, his given lesson from the pew.

So straight, so true. Solid and dependable, a friend to all.

A rock, a sport, a jolly decent sort.

 

She smiled, politely, through the still-damp graveside tears

for the blissful closeness of the fifty years she shared with him,

the man they thought they knew. This man,

who, on their virgin wedding night, had said that they

should leave the light on, and never be ashamed of how they felt,

and knelt down at her feet in worship, made her feel so blessed

and kissed her body, every inch, with gentle lips, and wept,

and told her of her perfect beauty, and his delight,

as she nervously undressed.

 

The man, who through all those years – even those when wanted

children never came, had adored her just the same,

while together they had slowly learned each other’s

every carnal need and fantasy. a spontaneity that never waned

or paused, behind the doors and curtains of their love nest home.

And from the kitchen sink, she would watch him in the garden, a wink,

a secret, signal lick of smiling lips would start familiar tremors

in her hips, his stubbly evening chin against her cheek, the reek

of honest soil on hands that came to rest upon her breasts,

 

the rawness of his urgency in the smallness of her back and

earthy whispered oaths he poured into her ears, devoid

of any shame, his gifts of lingerie, in silk, their private games.

A lifetime legacy of lust, of love. And she would miss his sweat,

his scent, the way he held her when they both were spent,

his morning smile, his touch, the way he looked at her,

so no one else would ever know or guess, his want, his need,

his understanding gentleness, the warmth of hand-in-hand.

 

Oh yes, he was, a very passionate man.