THE SINNER

 

SHE WAS WRINKLY THEN... HAD GROWN OLD,

HER STRAIGHT BLACK HAIRS TURNED WHITE,

THE CATARACTS DIMMING DOWN HER SIGHT,

ALTHOUGH  SHE STOOD STILL UPRIGHT AND BOLD.

 

AND EVERY NIGHT SHE GATHERED HER GRAN'KIDS

TO TELL'EM OF DAYS LONG LOST AND DEAD: 

OF HER OLD HUBBY, WHOSE GREATEST DREAD

HAD FACED, IN SPITE OF ALL HER PLEADS.

 

FOR SHE KNEW THAT HERPES SHE HAD GOT

WHOSE UGLY SORES HAD MARRED HER BLISS

FOR YEARS ALREADY; AND SHE WANTED NOT

 

TO GIVE HIM THE SAME, THOUGH HE BEGGED

TILL HER RESOLVE AT LAST ONE NIGHT SAGGED

AND GAVE HIM HER ILLNESS... FOR A KISS.  

The illustration is a Vintage Fay Wray.  Clearly she was not too leggy!