Observations placeholder
Literally figuratively
Identifier
005453
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The idea of this poem is that the last sentences are used figuratively in English to mean something else. But the joke in the poem is that they can mean something literally too.
A description of the experience
I’ve read in sex books that some of the positions
Require acrobatic skills or a physician
But your body’s so nice and your face is the same
[To keep you at arm’s length] would be such a shame
So let’s try the ones some may say need an athlete
Or double joints, yoga trainer or size 15 feet
I’ll try any position, making love, but one plea
Not any [back breaking work], my sweet darling for me
I know I’ve done wheelbarrows, ‘crabs’ and handstands
On my back on my head on my elbows and hands
I will lay on my back, legs apart just us two
Wide open to suggestions, suggestions from you
But I could try my shoulders with neatly arched back
With a rope or two slung round to take up the slack
And contortions, without hesitation or fear
I’ll put myself out for you darling my dear
They give numbers to positions, we’ve tried 69
Forty two, fifty one, all the numbers in time!
We’ve no numbers left – well maybe a few
I have bent over backwards my darling for you
But hanging from chandeliers, swinging from trees?
Suspended by ankles, or in a deep freeze?
They’re simply too difficult – give them a miss
I’ll put my foot down darling firmly on this
So my athletic lover, imaginative friend
The one who instructs me on how the knees bend
I can honestly say when you’re hovering above
I am head over heels with you darling in love