My Daughter Asks, at the Dangerous Women Exhibit, by Brian A. Salmons

Salome Receiving the Head of John the Baptist, by Guido Reni (Italy) 1639-42

My Daughter Asks, at the Dangerous Women Exhibit

Your assay of the head stripped
Of his body, eyes lewd, vengeful,
The loose caress of his hair
On your fist, your body's studied threat,
Almost answer my daughter's
Question: Daddy, why are the women
Naked? You put it differently, with
Lowered blade, to unbreathing eyes.
You wait for him to tender desire
As sublime gift again, as Second Coming,
As whatever he wants, when
He wants, because he wants.

Brian A. Salmons

Brian A. Salmons is a poet and translator from Orlando, Florida. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Eyedrum Periodically, NonBinary Review, Poets Reading the News, The Light Ekphrastic, Eratio, and others, including anthologies from YellowJacket Press and TL;DR Press.