De Waal Venter Poet Free verse

Discovering Women

In 1950 the boy's world
was mostly populated by women.
Men were there as well
but they were like forces of nature
dark, incomprehensible, moving around
making deep sounds.

Women had red painted nails,
they had permed hair,
they had bosoms
smelling of babies.
They spoke often, mostly pleasantly,
their words left a dryish lipstick taste
on the boy's lips.
When they kicked off their high heels
the damp odour
of their nylon stockinged feet
had a strange allure.

There were little girls,
small feral things
with glittering, gathering eyes
and they sometimes bit.

The boy wanted one of these
but did not know how to acquire her.
So he touched her hair
and she slapped him away.

That night he slept with the sting
of her eyes
cuddled in his arms.

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De Waal Venter December 2, 2008 at 7:58 PM Hello Denis - yes, that fine line between prose and free verse. I appreciate your insight into this poem and your ability to read it for what it is. Thanks :)

Denis Joe December 2, 2008 at 12:20 PM Some might call this prose, but that would be missing the element that makes it poetry: the music of it. The narrative tells us something but it is the use of the language that makes the reading an experience. The imagery is brilliant: ‘Men were there as well-but they were like forces of nature’; ‘their words left a dryish lipstick taste-on the boy's lips.’ and ‘There were little girls,-small feral things’ have adreamy feel. This speaks volumes about the choice of words that build it.

Carrie Richards December 1, 2008 at 8:10 AM Wow...this poem was amazing, with sensuality, and yet longing of a boy. Your word choices are wonderful, De Waal. Excellent work here! ~ Carrie

Sharon Winter December 1, 2008 at 5:43 AM Memory brought to life with great words of imagery. Love this write. I guess she couldn't resist your charms after all. Enjoyed. Love, Shar

Ciss G December 1, 2008 at 5:26 AM When they kicked off their high heels the damp odour of their nylon stockinged feet had a strange allure interesting :)

Christopher Higgins December 1, 2008 at 4:57 AM This is beautiful my friend. I love the last stanza..sleeping with the sting...wonderful..you painted a picture that I was able to follow throughout. Great job.