THE ADAM AND EVE POOL

We were completely innocent  
at what all this nude bathing meant.  
Elders called it 'Adam-Eve pool":  
it was a marriage market tool.  

We had not begun to relate  
in couples, yet to copulate.  
It was part of coming of age,  
a test to one's body image.  
 
These occasions would be the date  
when we would meet our future mate,  
with whom we then would procreate  
sons and daughters for the state.  
 
We did know, from the nude statues,  
something of the likely views  
that awaited each other's eyes.  
Though, even there, there'd be surprise.  
 
The human body is not made  
always as sculptors have portrayed;  
the size to which our breasts had grown  
when compared might raise silent groan.  
The tone of skin and body hair  
would sometimes differ here and there.  
 
The sexes would undress apart,  
on opposite sides of pool for start,  
when the city's sons and daughters  
made their debut in its waters.  
 
Far off elders watched discreetly  
to prevent taken liberty;  
youths were warned if they did attack  
a girl, it would be sword in back.  
 
Our lined up suitors drawn they'd be  
from graduates of 'versity,  
time served apprentices of craft  
or full trained soldiers from the draft.  
 
We would be lined up, stripped of kit,  
one pairing up to the opposite,  
ideally image mirror  
equivalent to one's figure,  
with some differencing of height  
and colour of eye shining bright.  
 
Trumpet blew start, we'd jump or slip  
into the water, pass cold nip  
then warm up as swim did begin  
towards the middle with raised chin  
until came meeting of the bands  
with exchanged names and join of hands.  
 
The shyness with which we'd begin,  
gave way to ease in one's own skin;  
once got used to temperature  
of water, we'd feel more self-sure.  
 
He'd escort me to his bank-side,  
so we came out like groom with bride.  
Both wet all over we would be  
as one surveyed other's body.  
 
When his manhood stood up below  
from his dark bush, it was 'hello'  
He'd looked on me sufficiently  
to decide he would marry me.  
 
He said, "I'd like to see you later..."  
So I would take him to my pater,  
who'd question him on his prospects  
in the world. "Our state expects",  
he'd say, "Each man do his duty;  
she is a woman fertile be."  
 
"I consent to matrimony.  
From now you have authority  
to make your stamp within her life  
in the act of husband and wife."