she said
she never knew true love
until she had a child
and i felt hurt
as men will tend to do
to know
that we're extrinsic
to a woman's love
at last reckoning
yet i had learned
the lessons i was taught
as a child --
that men are expendable
in fire
in flood
in war
it is our job to die
so the greater work
can go on
without us
if needs make so
and that women will
transfer
the full expression
of their love
always
to the smallest person
in the room
and they'll call you
when they're ready
for another one
maybe
