A Bachelor’s Answer

I see now Guy
wasn’t old
it was his hair
prematurely white

that stamped him ancient
when I was seven
listening to Big Muddy gossip

women marveled at his
              tidiness
faded clean without a wife

I have three handmaids
              he explained
water wind and sun
at my beck and call

yet a few snoops
still watched the road
perhaps to catch an Indian girl
with Guy’s laundry in a basket

                                          9--20--98