The Innisfree Poetry Journal

www.innisfreepoetry.org

by Bruce Bennett

THE AFTERMATH

"All women are virtual."

I said it as a joke. There was that couple

in England, you know, how she caught him cheating

in Second Life, and told him that was it.

They'd met online, and married there, so sex

online (though he denied it) still is sex

if that is how one lives. It does make sense.

It's funny, sure, but if you think about it—

the thing at least with me that struck a chord—

is, how is that so different from the way

we view each other as erotic subjects?

Our sexual fantasies—aren't they virtual?

So, what I said was meant to be ironic—

I knew it might offend—but also true

in some deep way, as good jokes often are.

It's complicated. But it was a joke.

STRIPPER

One way to look at it: it's just a job.

The pay is great. For seven hours a week,

I get to buy my books, and lots of extras.

And no one knows. I get a double life,

not that I really want that. Still, it works.

And also, I admit, I've learned a lot!

None of it good, I have to say. The way

guys act. I sometimes want to shout, Come off it!

You poor pathetic losers, get a life!

Of course, I can't. I wouldn't have my job.

So I just do the thing they pay me well for.

Besides, it isn't me. I wear a wig.

I'm someone else. I'm barely even there.

In fact, a lot of times I'm doing homework.