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Her Cold Rebuff That Night

by Ken Harnisch

Dim the lights to what end?

As far as I’m concerned

Open the wine and watch it

Turn to vinegar before your

Eyes. I am not a toy to be

Manipulated by the lips

Of those intent on conquest;

Where my mind is dismissed

As packaging;

My body the ingredients

Inside the box.

 

You come to

Me all eyes and hands, no

Heart and soul. You seek the

Momentary without contemplating

The sweet consequence of

The longer journey.

 

I am not

Loath to explore the waters

Of any sensual river, but you

Have taken skimming to an

Art form, and fishing to an

Extreme.

 

I am something

In the water that caught your

Eye. Well, uncatch me and throw

Me back in the foaming brine.

I want to be prey to men

More subtle with their hooks

And worms. You have hooks,

All right, but I can’t say I’m

All that enamored of your worm.

 

07/20/2003

Author's Note: Several years ago, a creative writing teacher of mine challenged the class to write foorm the perspective of the other sex. From time to time, I remember that charge. Here is the latest result.

Posted on 07/20/2003
Copyright © 2024 Ken Harnisch

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Agnes Eva on 07/20/03 at 04:11 PM

interesting concept. having read your author's note the last line takes on a very cheeky double meaning. you've succeeded in the depth of your understanding of the situation from the other perspective. it's uncanny, but I wrote of that fisherman analogy to a friend once, talking about why she can ignore some of the men that try to get her (to quote from the letter, "they are like blind fisherman throwing their lines out into the world"). So yes, I think your poem is quite deeply true and effective.

Posted by Melissa Arel on 07/23/03 at 01:29 PM

:) You know I liked this one. Snap!

Posted by Don Coffman on 09/03/03 at 10:33 AM

The challenge was definitely met and surpassed, a great job. I think you captured an accurate point of view, one that could be valid from a male perspective as well--cept for that last line, amusing as it was. :)

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