What Mama Forgot

Mama never told me that I should not get caught She taught many lessons well, but this one she did not She never told me that I must lead heat to the chase Or to be an enigma with an angelic face Mama never told me that I should keep love in store Try to be mysterious or risk being a bore Mama never told me to stay just out of his reach How to be coy and demure, my Mama didn’t teach She didn’t say wonder was a big part of the game That to give a man your heart will make you really tame Mama didn’t tell me to keep some things locked inside She didn’t say that when he seeks...I should go and hide Mama didn’t tell me every man desires to hunt Or that in speaking to him I must be shy not blunt She didn’t say the chase is the driving force of man Or that you must prolong it...just as long as you can Once he has caught his prey and has feasted at his will Your body he will discard, another prey to kill Always try to stay ahead, let your scent lead him on Let him paw you for a while, and then arise…be gone A man’s nature is to chase; it’s the air that he breathes Let him think he’s captured you, give in by small degrees But let your soul be ever free, don’t you dare get caught Oh Mama, you didn’t teach me this, Oh mama, you did not! Eileen Manassian Ghali