He gives her a black lace bra:
her heart swells. She fills the C-cup.
He gives her a bottle of champagne
costing £24.50. He has got a bargain.
He gives her a basket of strawberries.
Open wide! he says, gently. She opens.
He gives her a smooth round bloodstone
to wear round her neck. So cold.
He gives her a little house. All day long
she cleans his fingerprints from the paintwork.
He gives her five gold rings, one in her ear,
one in her nose, one in her nipple,
one in her navel, one in her finger. He takes
a fine gold wire and threads it between
ear, nose, nipple, navel and finger.
He twitches the end. She dances.
(Dorothy Nimmo)
