A boy and National Geographic magazine

Picture of a half-naked woman

heavy basket on her head

breasts pendulous smooth as ripe fruit

You don’t recall being overcome with lust

But you remember her arms

and wide hips under flowered skirt

Admired how strong she must be

to walk so far in a hot sun

You didn’t know one woman

in your town who could carry

such a weight on her head

walking from market to home

You couldn’t imagine them half-naked

unembarrassed of breasts

Naked women were for Playboy

adorned with tempting knowing smiles

Their human flesh somehow

simultaneously beautiful and sinful

You ask yourself why did ancient

church fathers invent original sin

Drape women in

woven skeins of guilt

demonizing female bodies

to justify the moral failure of men

11-14-19