deepundergroundpoetry.com
no place for a woman
I’ve been in some seedy bars in my travels, but this
one held the patent on dive. still, it was an oasis in
the dense humidity of the South American jungle, &
the iguana stew was tasty. it was also a contact point
for drug lords & smugglers who might need my services
as a hired thug.
when she walked in, it got real quiet, just like in those
cheap pulp novels. her black hair & her Hollywood beauty,
along with the contemptible sneer that said don’t fuck with me,
suggested that she coulda been Ava Gardner’s granddaughter.
it turns out she was on a charter, headed for a singing gig in Rio,
when the plane made a forced landing several miles back. a
cabbage truck picked her up & dropped her here.
she took the only empty table, & the local despicables started
pickin their teeth with Bowie knives. I’ve been in trouble since I
swiped a pacifier from the punk in the crib next to mine, but I
never bruised a woman with anything other than my lips, so my
Russian Glock & I joined her like we were invited. we faked the
prelims, then settled in with a bottle of contraband Kentucky.
‘females are rare in these parts,’ I told her. ‘that makes you a
prime commodity. there are those who would buy you, & those
who would just take you. not sure which faction would be more
gentle.’
‘I been roughed up some,’ she said, not attempting to conceal
her grit. ‘but I made them bastards regret they ever met up with
me.’ her hard eyes had me convinced that she spoke true. those
same eyes confessed a nasty secret, that the softness there had
been beaten out long ago.
anyway, she finally made it to Rio, & I never crossed trails with
her again. but now & then, she shows up, sweet & a little softer,
in the dark background of a dream. & most nights, I can look up
at a silver screen sky, & fall in love with those eyes…
Published 25th Mar 2015
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Anonymous
- Edited 25th Sep 2020 3:45am
25th Mar 2015 10:33pm
<< post removed >>
Anonymous
25th Mar 2015 10:50pm
nyce jawknee
25th Mar 2015 11:51pm
Great job with the descriptions! I really love reading your poetry. You put me right into the middle of the scene. Thank you!
26th Mar 2015 00:05am
26th Mar 2015 00:43am
26th Mar 2015 5:29am
you had me at "glock"...
... vivid, sensual, dangerous. Mister Feddeler, you never fail to transport me to wondrous places with your words
... vivid, sensual, dangerous. Mister Feddeler, you never fail to transport me to wondrous places with your words
26th Mar 2015 9:11am
what better elements needed for a smashing romance..you extract that outta any situation JF! amidst rough terrain you set the plot, n therez a delicate angel constructed from rugged beauty that she is. dream, dream n dream more..as u weave the secrets n language of the eyes! btfl share this one, missed reading your latest scribes. wl do. Tq:)
26th Mar 2015 2:42pm
There's nothing like a wholesome atmosphere for romance. Fine work, John. You're the master of pulp poetry, the most nuanced of noir.
26th Mar 2015 7:38pm
26th Mar 2015 8:08pm
This just has so much swagger...I love it..great story indeed!! I love the hint of a slight smile behind your words!!
27th Mar 2015 8:28pm
Another stunning poem, John. "those
same eyes confessed a nasty secret, that the softness there had
been beaten out long ago. "
These lines make the reader think, reveals something contradictory to the image you painted.
same eyes confessed a nasty secret, that the softness there had
been beaten out long ago. "
These lines make the reader think, reveals something contradictory to the image you painted.
1st Apr 2015 2:36pm
This one made me smile! I like the Bowie knife being used as tooth pick, awesome imagery! The ending swooned me of course! I bet he climbs gently inside her dreams too, from time to time. As always, you are a pleasure to read!
1st Dec 2016 10:15am
