Why Men Compete
by Mathew Paust
It starts on the Fallopian Speedway:
To finish first a matter of life
When wiring that gains the winner's flag
Flaunts its triumphant attributes
On the victory lap.
Wait, there's more,
Perhaps.
Does the host participate?
Do her linkages search beyond mere pace
Or strength or seminal cunning
Or any narcissistic edge
As sperm duels sperm?
Mayhap her secretions ministrate,
Slicking one o'er the other
In their frantic dash to a new being,
And the final arbiter's she?
Then it all comes down to chemistry,
Congruence of fluid with membrane, genetic winks.
Is this where life begins?
If so, 'tis here comes the primal taste, the commingled musk:
Conjoined designs, connubial mesh where spark appears
And anoints.
Ah very good... The tone works so well.
“Congruence of fluid with membrane, genetic winks.”
Much appreciate the encouraging words, Steven.
I am always trying to figure our why men (and others) compete, and clearly I am not the only one.*
PS: Here's my totally fictional take from a no longer online Thanksgiving 2012 piece: "Thank you for this beautiful life. I believe I did not result from a competitive sperm that swam among antagonist. I believe it calmly slid into its destiny. I may be wrong, but I like my belief. Better than any others. Thank you for my beliefs."
Many thanks, Beate. Better late than never, I should think.(I found your comment while revisiting an old poem to repost it, which I shall now do...)