Green Men

As you walk

without hesitation

without gratitude

Seemingly,

without fear 

As you walk

back to your place
of power and privilege


You still
require her to smile


As you walk
past the place of humanity,
brokenness


shrill echoes
of shattered glass
 

You still
require her to smile


As you walk
back to your place
of power and privilege


Her silent screams
and muffled dreams
are washed away

By the vault of indifference
that slams behind you

she is resigned
to a slow sifting
hourglass of isolation


Yet

you still

require

her to smile
 

She wearies
of the preparation
of submission

a mask that suffocates,

her pretense of desire


But she is

the
 
entertainment,

the 

meal,

the

pleasure,


the plaything


Her belly aches of
raw foie gras, figs
and Bergerac


It no longer matters
that her soul
is absent from this feast


  
She gathers her body
stained and sweaty
from your momentary
remembrance of her

The violation
puddles
in quiet places

She submits
to a place 
of self-loathing


She knows

that

this

is not

the last

of green men

that will require her to smile
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Evans Avatar
July 3, 2020 at 2:19 AM
Amazing! Aesthetic! Love the line "her silent screams and muffled dreams are washed away".
Faulkner Avatar
September 14, 2018 at 1:01 PM
While I see this is a much more serious topic, it makes me think of the customer service jobs I held were smiling was a job requirement - you do wonderful free verse!
Jordan Avatar
September 15, 2018 at 7:12 PM
Your right it does;)Thanks Michelle:)
Kiser Avatar
September 12, 2018 at 4:58 AM
This is a very powerful verse: "As you walk back to your place of power and privilege Her silent screams and muffled dreams are washed away By the vault of indifference that slams behind you Yet you still require her to smile ". An excellent write.
Jordan Avatar
September 12, 2018 at 9:19 AM
Hi M.L., it a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much. Have a great day. G
Lawless Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Oh, Gabrielle, this is a poignant write containing an almost imperceptible metaphor. The title drew me in and the last couplet left me withered.
Jordan Avatar
September 12, 2018 at 9:18 AM
Hi John, I thought that I had replied to you and see that I hadn't. Thanks so much!!!
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