Tropical Romance
© Copyright
1997 Carroll Williams
Day after day
he sat under a coconut palm
and listened
to the sound of the surf.
He pretended not to notice
the passing parade
of well shaped females.
He stretched out his torso;
flexed his muscled arms and legs;
shifted his body
to show his best features;
and feigned disinterest.
She often sat nearby.
Seldom did she glance
in his direction.
If she thought about him
it did not show.
He glanced at her.
Did not stare.
She pretended not to notice.
Early one morning
she came and sat near him.
He kept his distance.
He was experienced.
She was not.
Moving almost imperceptibly,
he came closer.
Before she realized
what happened
he had her in his embrace.
His arms wrapped tightly around her.
His lips pressed to her neck.
He held her close.
He tightened his hold.
She went limp.
She could make no sound.
They became one.
She had never felt this way before.
They return now
to sit
and listen to the surf.
Their children play nearby.
There is a new crop
of baby lizards
in my garden.
Written in my yard at Indialantic, Florida
while watching the green anole lizards in their mating
rituals. The green anole is an exotic import from Cuba and has
almost totally displaced the native Florida chameleons.
