Judith Viorst: To a Middle-Aged Friend Considering Adultery with a Younger Man

It's hard to be devil-may-care
When there are pleats in your derrière
And it's time to expose what your panty hose 

        are concealing.
And although a husband's fond eyes
Make certain allowances for your thighs,
Young lovers might look less benignly at what 

        you're revealing.

It's hard to surrender to sin

While trying to hold your stomach in

And hoping your blusher's still brightening up 

        your complexion,

And hoping he isn't aware

As he runs his fingers through your dark hair,

That you've grown unmistakably gray in a whole

        other section.

It's hard to experience bliss

When sinus intrudes on every kiss

And when, in the tricky positions, your back

        starts to hurt you.

And when you add all it entails

To teach him what turns you on and what fails,

You might want to reconsider the virtues of

        virtue.