DAVID AND VENUS VISIT A TIME CAPSULE MUSEUM

He wraps marble arms around

the contours of what’s left

of her graceful body.

Drenched in Namibia sunlight,

radiant faces, on smiling caryatids

hold up the walls of a time capsule

museum of love.

Renditions of love songs

can be heard up and down

the halls: You made me love you,

and I only have eyes for you.

Romantic archives display

a treasure trove of antique

Valentine Day cards, lipstick,

plush loveseats, Soir de Paris,

Shalimar and Eau de Cologne.

Trojans and Ramses abound,

along side diaphragms, an IUD,

cervical cap and vaginal ring.

A mosaic of contraceptive pills

decorate the spermicidal wall

on a tapestry of Adam and Eve.

They puzzle over pre-nups

and wonder what that’s all about,

since they never heard of divorce,

let alone, having to get a GET.

They leave the museum singing a duet

of Love me or leave me, but please don’t

deceive me.. .