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Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928)
Men
When I was young, I used to
Watch behind the curtains
As men walked up and down the street. Wino men, old men.
Young men sharp as mustard.
See them. Men are always
Going somewhere.
They knew I was there. Fifteen
Years old and starving for them.
Under my window, they would pauses,
Their shoulders high like the
Breasts of a young girl,
Jacket tails slapping over
Those behinds,
Men.
One day they hold you in the
Palms of their hands, gentle, as if you
Were the last raw egg in the world. Then
They tighten up. Just a little. The
First squeeze is nice. A quick hug.
Soft into your defenselessness. A little
More. The hurt begins. Wrench out a
Smile that slides around the fear. When the
Air disappears,
Your mind pops, exploding fiercely, briefly,
Like the head of a kitchen match. Shattered.
It is your juice
That runs down their legs. Staining their shoes.
When the earth rights itself again,
And taste tries to return to the tongue,
Your body has slammed shut. Forever.
No keys exist.
Then the window draws full upon
Your mind. There, just beyond
The sway of curtains, men walk.
Knowing something.
Going someplace.
But this time, I will simply
Stand and watch.
Maybe.
Read poems about / on: girl, smile, fear, world, running
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A dangerously beautiful poem.
Immortally written yes?
filled w such pain and honesty.... something meant to be so delicate, soft, sensational, joyous.... giving up a specialty, an invaluable treasure that can not be given back to receive a moment of pleasure(being wrapped in their arms) filled w pain... loveable-pain (oxymoron)
Very Fine. I like your poems verymuch. I am impressed.
Will you please express your views on my poems.
Thanking you
With regards,
Gajanan Mishra
EVERYBODY: Did you know my real name is Isabelle.Read my poems Your Kiss Burns, Smile With Tears, Behind Your Caramel eyes.
I prefer this over Phenomenal Woman any day.
Excellent write.
This is an amazing poem - I think you need to understand the history behind men in society - listen to her words carefully and so on...
I have heard a lot of women who talk with regret about their first sexual experience, but I don't think that is ALL Maya wanted to point out, she is pointing out the issue's of women during any sexual encounters how they are singled out as objects rather than human beings and they can only smile during the fear because they can do nothing else.
It is a powerful poem and many women feel this way, maybe not all, but Maya was perhaps one of them, very well written, my respects to her.
This poem is powerful and filled with so much truth. It is actually CHARGED with truth
Every mother should read this poem to her teenage girls, as a prelude to her 'coming of age'. It explains how and why we feel the way we do about men, despite any wrongs and any 'things' that just aren't enough.
Extreme realness in your words spoken for every girl and boy too, I shivered when I first danced with my wife when teenagers 55 yrs on an still dancing...luvli poem as always with your very humane poems...regards +++++10