Shoulders of Shame (re-edited)

Alone, this world
man
so alone.
That he even perceives his loneliness at all
renders him so very
alone
among much
and I,
also a man
also perceiving it
am the loneliest of all
and most acquainted with its mouth of many ills.

To relieve
– no length –
will man
– no length –
nor distance far
nor evil ill
will he willing
– be so willing –
for one night
just one night
of naked touch
and naked cloth,
and bare breast,
and bare thought,
lie,
pretense,
with only his fear,
humiliation,
and emasculation to drape
the bones his purple robe
grim shoulders of shame.