20 sit ups

If 20 sit ups
paid for your sideways glance
when I danced
across the floor
pretending to ignore
toes that were sore
in shoes
that lit up
fresh sparkling diamonds
dripping like the
dew from wildflowers

If 20 sit ups
the reason your eyes waned
could not contain
beads that drained
as if sweat
could demand respect
and repeat
mathematical equations
and symetrical diagrams
ripped the moonlit sky
on nights
that make you
believe that
good smelling breath
was captured in
bottles sold in stores

If 20 sit ups
equated to your quiet approval
attention deficit removal
waiting for just
the right time
I put on my
red dress
slip on my
high heels
and some of that
sweet perfume
Oh you talented brother
as if hard work
and lace
were the perfect
compliment to
your my oh my

as if you studied the
pulse of my
one, two, three
matched
melody per melody
and together
those repetitious
20 sit ups
became our mantra
for a future
of improvement