I Met a Gladiator (Ben-Him)

Once upon a time you worked in a racy barCalled The CenturionThat required you to dressIn full gladiator regalia,And on our first nighttime outing,To my surprise (and thrill!),You kept the extravagant Roman costume on,Elegant, comme il faut sandals and all,Even in the breakneck taxiAnd raging disco—

My savvy best friend insisted we meet,Arranging a blind date—Something I usually avoid—And just outside the Brazilian eatery you chose,Some friends (recognizable movie stars!)Saluted you and asked:Why so many clothes, Mr. Model?Over delicious feijoada, you filled me in aboutThe Spartacus-themed barAnd your reputation as an aceAt posing for romance novel covers(To help bankroll law school),And of course, the fact you were notoriousFor rollerskating around town shirtless—

At a glamorous Manhattan disco you proved to beA fabulous dancer,And for the first time in my life,I felt intimidated; I dialedOur wise and lovable friend, laughing:Why didn’t you warn me about “Ben-Him”!I looked into your maverick blue eyesOn the dance floor and thought:I know your spirit!—

Flash forward twenty years:We meet again, and this timeOur matured and tested hearts,Our timeless and laughter-rich friendshipSeem totally attuned!Retired sexual saint, former disco superstarWith a once-pleasing posseOf alluring actors and pretty boys,In the 21st century, I like that you’re proudOf your gradually acquired bellyAnd almost priestly pate;Nowadays I’m an all-out fanOf your nonstop altruism,Your multilingual mindAnd on-tap fellow feelingAs well as your former champion body;Legal master-builder who let goYour ludus, your long-ago gladiator school,And flashy Chelsea Colosseum,It’s clear as a campanileOr a cornet’s register, you’ve chosenYour boundless humanity,Your mountainous and caring spirit,In favor of your hard-earned biceps,And oh, that’s exhilarating news, Ben-Him,That’s progress—

What in the world—in one earthly sojourn,Can a forthright man be bothA Hercules and a Mother Teresa?I’m planning to stay tuned!