Tony Barnstone

THE TRUTH IS THAT HE NEVER WAS THAT GOOD
AT FLIRTING, BUT HIS FRIENDS DID THEIR BEST
TO SET HIM UP

Patricia looks just like a movie star,
you know, the actress in Jerry Maguire,
what’s her name, the pretty one, and he stares
at her a bit too much, feeling a fire
ignite, of lust or the Greek sun. A tiny
yellow missile darts from the sky of glass:
a bee that stings her where her white bikini
bottom arches round her lovely ass,
and Jaqueline says someone must suck out
the poison fast or else the wound will swell.
He gets the job and sucks with modest ardor
while everybody laughs. Patricia Pouts,
“It hurts. It isn’t coming out,” then smiles,
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to suck it harder.”

—from Rattle #21, Summer 2004