Viagra Surprise

by Kathleen Murphey

They fell in love—

desire, lust, passion.

They couldn’t get enough.

Then children and life—

they grew older and love deepened—

but in his forties, he became uneven.

Though he wanted to, sometimes he couldn’t.

They settled into a happy rhythm—

a more platonic stage of their relationship.

Years went by,

and they were fine.

Then, one day, he comes home with a little blue pill.

He wants it again—like when they first met.

She’s taken off guard—

conflicting emotions warring inside.

When he couldn’t, they didn’t.

She didn’t because he couldn’t.

Sexually neutered is how she felt—

unless she attended to herself.

Now, he can, so they can.

What an ass of a man—

such a self-absorbed man!

Her anger surprised him—

took him off guard.

Slowly, he realized the wrong he had done—

by seeing her sexuality only through his.

They came at it again—

better warned and better matched—

to handle the Viagra Surprise.

* * * * *

Kathleen Murphey is an associate professor of English at Community College of Philadelphia.  Recently, she has been writing fiction (both short stories and poetry) on women’s and social justice issues.  To learn more about her work, see www.kathleenmurphey.com.