The Working of Love
By Gerald Zipper

The dwarf held her slender hand at the theatre
she was beautiful
he was deformed
she glowered
she pulled his hand
he stumbled behind
odd pair
husband and majesty
purchase of his family
she was the ever-punishing tyrannizer
the striver for wealth
he the ever-grateful
struggler for love
she turned her long neck to incite lusting stares
gathering honey from the corners of her eyes
intermission turned
and he was the star of his nebulae
blazing dispenser of wit and wisdom
in bed they coupled hot and heaving
until he tired of the rotating of beauty and pain
and sought another of a bit less radiance.