to be lusted over

you are not born with decency, rather it is taught. sopped up, mopped up like a sponge taking in
your surroundings
             and how you grew up.
if you are serious, pray to the gods to wipe away your sins except maybe not the greek ones all
they do is sin—
           look at apollo.

picture it
someone of her beauty and grace
radiating light
going about her day in a daze
until he catches her gaze,
struck by the arrow that is lust—
i mean love!

and oh god did she jump
she jumped and screamed
jumped screamed and
ran
away from his arms chasing after her now
he was an animal
goal in eyes
in mind
nothing could stop his movement and so she ran.

you are not born with decency.

she ran.

decency is taught.

she ran.

you are not born with decency.

she ran.

you grow up with it.

someone never told Apollo this. (even the gods do not know the difference between lust and
love.)
he almost caught her.
a hand wrapped around her waist,
pulling at her clothes
pinching at her skin
until her fingertips started their shrubbery
bark to bone
heartbeat to sap
and her feet implanted into the ground.

and still he claimed her.

You are not born with decency.

— Marley Manalo