The Painting

You watched me
Watching the painting of the lovers
On the wall
With a silly, knowing, half-erotic smile
It seemed to amuse you
My interest
You positioned yourself
As if carelessly
Casually facing me
from a distance
With a drink in hand
And demanded my attention
You knew this would
Embarrass me
And that I would look away
From your gaze
I stopped looking
At the lovers
Knowing
That we were both thinking of the same thing
You wanted me to remember
Times when we were just like that?
As if I needed
Your persuasion!

Sashikala Premawardhane