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Perception of Innocence
by Rusty C Arquette
A mousy woman
and her young daughter
got on the city bus
they sat across
from a black woman
in a bright white uniform
the little girl bobbed and swayed
with the movements
of the bus
she stared intently
at the large silent woman
across from her
the mother was lost
in some distant thought
out the bus window
the girl slipped
from her seat and moved
to sit by the black lady
the woman absorbed
in movement of the traffic
didnt notice
the girl slid
in increments closer
to the focus of her interest
the woman took notice
and looked at the little girl
and smiled
the little girls mother
then became aware
the girl had moved
she looked anxious
for a moment
watching the girls progress
the black woman smiled
calming
the mothers apprehension
the girl stared
at the black ladys arm
and then at her own arm
she looked up
at the woman and then
back to the womans arm
the girl then reached out gently
to touch
the womans bare arm
looking to the woman
for a reaction,
she hesitated for a second
the woman bent toward her
and grinned
as she said to the girl
you go right ahead child,
you can touch it,
I dont mind
the girl touched
the offered arm and looked
at her hand intently
she looked back
to the black woman
with a puzzled expression
the woman laughed aloud
and gave the little girl
a big squeeze
chuckling she said,
oh no, baby,
it wont come off, thas fo sure
the girls mother
called the reluctant little girl
to come sit by her
still smiling nervously back
at the black woman as she did
children is all so curious little things
the black woman said,
we should all be dat simple
and curious bout life
I turned
to the attractive oriental woman
sitting next to me
her tan arm exposed
in a yellow
summer dress
my eyes
played over its length
till I met her eyes
she looked at me
with a dark
unyielding stare
dont even think about it!
she snapped
ah, I thought;
an unspoken lesson learned
it would seem
perceptions of innocence
change with age and gender
okay I replied,
but if you dont want me
to get that wasp
off your arm
maybe you
should do something about it
She screamed,
flailed her arms,
and I sat the rest of the trip
on my own
04/23/2003 Author's Note: The curiosity and wonder of our children never ceases to entertain me - RCat
Posted on 10/31/2008
Copyright © 2024 Rusty C Arquette
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by A. Paige White on 10/31/08 at 02:26 PM Beautiful RCat! And what a gallant you were in offering to risk the sting to rescue her arm... I have so many cherished memories like this with my kids and grandson. They make life worth living in sooooo many ways. |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 11/01/08 at 12:24 AM Quite a story. Suspense, plot, and cool conclusion. All so succinctly in one poem! |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 11/02/08 at 05:27 AM A great read and picture to go with it Rusty....CharMin |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 11/05/08 at 12:03 AM From sweet to silly, pleasing all ages. I really enjoyed this, RCat! |
| Posted by Sandy M. Humphrey on 11/06/08 at 06:15 PM I love your stories and your lessons taught, the twist at the end priceless. smh |
| Posted by Julie Adams on 01/29/10 at 10:55 AM I do love this piece, it's story to simple yet so all encompassing...just lovely lesson and moment captured...I enjoy the humor to the end also...though I might suggest the use of the word Asian instead of Oriental, as that word is quite dated and offensive to some, since it generally refers to objects, not people... |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 01/29/10 at 04:07 PM Congrats on POTD! Always a pleasure to read this one! |
| Posted by A. Paige White on 01/29/10 at 04:27 PM What a delight to find this as POTD. Congratulats!
p.s.
It's still reads as skillfully and is as amusing now as it was when I first read it. |
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