OLD FASHIONED WAYS

It’s there behind us all:

the weight of flesh on flesh

the human skin-to-skin

and salt with salt;

Two pulses juxtaposed

to mingle Y with X.

A crafty German thief

with Irish maid;

Dutch railroad man with

prim and proper Dane

Or sturdy Mohawk seed

so loving-spent in

English field.

And whether wedlock-blessed

or furtive quick behind-the-shed

There was a time when each one born

required a meeting of the flesh.

Now we have miracles:

warm human child

from frozen seed

and frosty egg;

With Petri dish

and glass pipette

cold embryo becomes

a swelling bud of life.

But flesh will still meet flesh

and heart meet heart;

Science's miracles

will not replace the art;

When all is said and done

old-fashioned is more fun.