Poem: How Agile Is Your Tongue?

My tongue surrounds

The small, flexible cherry stem,

Bending it against its will

In a futile attempt

To pull it into a loop.

Once, twice, a dozen times

Stem and tongue entwine

In this dance of determination.

The once-firm pedicle

Turns pulpy

From my perseverance.

Small strips peel off

And stick between my teeth,

But still the tiny stem

Twists stubbornly away.

Just as I’m about to surrender

And count myself among

The unskilled,

The stem surrenders,

Slipping almost effortlessly

Into a loop. I pull the knot

Tighter between teeth and tongue.

Only one question:

Why has such

A petty accomplishment

Earned looks of admiration

From so many male acquaintances?

Dirty