Orion's Phallusy

Orion yearned those Pleiades
Dragged 
In endless stellar chaste pursuit
Loved them as no mortal man
Ever loved a woman
Who ever caught one

Orion never had to gnaw off that starry arm
That held the club
To let her sleep
While he got out
The morning after

Orion never had to say,
"I'm going out for smokes
I'll be right back," at 3 am
When she said,
"I think I love you."

From Poems of the New Old West
Copyright 2002, Jack Purcell

Jack