Magnetic Pole Exposition

Some adult language

The theater of painted harlots

Dances within hungry eyes

Flashes of pale downy flesh

Cause lascivious thoughts to rise

The lights dim and the curtains close

The patrons make their exits

Home to white picket fences

Guarding nuclear families

Behind the stage cries a young girl

Not yet seventeen

Streaks of kohl mar the features

Desperate to not be seen

She does it for the money

That feeds a baby girl

But as she walks down the street

Cruel glances wound her world

The next night she dances pole,

Falls and cannot rise

Men jeer as their paid w***e stumbles

Contempt of sorrow undisguised

They go home to warm houses,

Kiss their kids and f**k their wives

While in a dark room silent tears

Drowning in lost innocence and lies

They go home to warm houses,

Smile brightly, kiss their spouses,

While in a dark room a lost girl cries,

And slits her wrists to touch the sky

Author's Note

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i have known several who support themselves doing this....and even when they feign happiness,there is a certain sadness...because they do feel used, they feel so objectified...and in the back room, they do cry.

this moved me immensely.

[Raymond Federle]

Thank you Jacob! :)

[Baby Ricochet]

I'm down with the theater of painted Harlots. I think it's a strip joint in Vegas, I'm not sure.

[Raymond Federle]

YA.. I'm down wit dat as well...minus the underage strippers... where do we think we are?!?!? The Philippines??? Naughty, naughty..... Check out "The Rat's Hole" the next time your in Daytona beach Fl.

[Nusquam Esse]

I particularly liked the wording of the first stanza, love your word choices, especially lascivious; another word I don't feel gets enough use, like a direct reciprocal of Salacious. The inconsistent structure here keeps you on your toes, especially the bit about Nuclear Families, which seems 'almost' out of place. In a way it makes it stand out, so I can't really condemn nor condone this segment. I like the way you depict the hypocrisy of the men, and really emphasize the lost of her innocence, much too young for that kind of world. I could almost see the contempt twisted snarls of the men (A sensation I get often when reading Kafka). The final bit about slit wrists is a bit over used, especially on here... but I do like the way it is coupled with 'touch the sky', giving it a rather enigmatic if not suggestive implication. All in all, a piece I definitely enjoyed; at least enough to read it several times to absorb it. A good sign from someone who often struggles in appreciating poetry.

[Raymond Federle]

I agree, the "slit wrist" motif is used entirely to much, as well as other tired, old, use poetry phrases. however I try to use them coupled with something that gives it a slight twist.... "slits her wrists to touch the sky" Maybe only the metaphorical "slit wrist" and not actually killing.
herself. "Nuclear families" : Iwas trying to present the idea of a modern family... ya know 2 kids, little house, white picket fence.
All in all it's about sacrifice and judgment, doing what one has to in order to survive and take care of one's responsibilities at the ridicule of others.

[Baby Ricochet]

Jesus Christ this is some review. I'm gonna cut and paste it to the last half dozen rhymes I've written. Just seeing it will attached to my tirades will make me feel smart.

[Raymond Federle]

BR... you're a riot! LOL :)

[Nusquam Esse]

Exuberance, Jubilation, and Forced Ostentatious Conviviality for all, I do declare! (seriously... try actually saying that to describe how your day went whenever people ask; even better if done in an Indian accent, because Posh British is overrated)

[Baby Ricochet]

I'm from the south. I say it with a southern accent

[Nusquam Esse]

Tsk... Indian is southern... ;)