Clean Is Being What You Seem

When walking through the green,
I see old men and wenches
And they are what they seem
Sitting on their benches.
Their snake-veined hands upon their knees
Kneading them forlornly,
Their smooth hand by their breasts or thighs,
Gesturing only.

And in their way they're very clean,
All old men and wenches,
Being only what they seem,
Sitting on their benches.

But what should raise a question,
With all their groans and grinning,
Bad backs and good digestion,
Are young men and old women.

- Sitaram (written Saturday, June 18, 1966 at 4:30p.m.)