Never had one, never wanted one

never even thought of it

Somehow our love life lived

so simple and so bold

notions of such toys did not arise — felt inapplicable

like . . . sourcing clockwork spoons for sipping soup?

or . . . Bluetooth lipstick brush, perchance ?

Not a bad thing, not a wrong thing, just unneeded,

somehow trivial, too jokey, really not the point

Perhaps, almost, an insult to purely perfect gourmet fare

on offer at our late-night/sunbright/twilit lovers' feasts?

Now everything so different — now this too

A shapely deep red rose . . . of yielding silicone

that throbs and softly hums responding to your touch

and then you throb and hum responding back.

Odd history — sought potted blooms on Amazon

to send across the weary miles as wholesome birthday gift

and when I entered single search word — rose —

suggestion popped up right away — rose sex toy —

appearing first, above promoted perfumes, before sweet soaps,

or seeds, or fancy jams, or living green-leafed plants

as if this oddball iteration was now new norm!

Sort of shocked, at first, then a bit intrigued

enough at least to click the box. . . and sudden see

a whole wide world of floral solo sex on offer there!

Who knew? (all knew, it seems, or many, just not me)

that flower-human-sex was out there, was a thing

My own long-standing love for blossoms, swift snapped off

and slipped inside my purse or shopping sack

as I walk down our city streets to check off daily tasks. . .

this taste reads slightly different now — like added meaning lurks

in long thick stalks and solid buds of randomly plucked rose

thrust deep into front pocket of my pretty shoulder bag?

And, soon enough, was back online

and finger clicked to buy

And soon enough beyond the door

the deep red rose arrived

discreet inside a handsome textured matte black box

And when at last I tried, to my surprise it swiftly/smoothly took me!

took me back to feelings, heat and dreams from so so long ago

Strangely similar sensations

body still remembering

still seeing, wanting, needing

still capable of glad.