Her body, his body,
nude in a sauna,and she slick with sweat
sits on his lap facing him,
and he slick with sweat
holds her close. Deep
Swedish winter wraps
around the building of flats.
This is good," she says. This
is very, very good. He likes
the softly scratchy feel of her
pubic hair & the miracle
of hardening nipples. It is
good, he says--and stops
himself from saying a rare
jewel of a night because
she would mock him for
adding a flourish.
The cold air that strikes them
as they leave the sauna and cross
the hallway naked to their flat
feels like freshly invented air.
Inside they guzzle water, shower,
get in bed, and make love. Later,
as she snores, he sinks like an anchor
into sleep. but he thinks he needs
to button up the night with words.
To himself he says, Good, very
good & then his brain disappears.
hans ostrom 2022
