Orphan Boy

I wrote this poem about a friend of mine whose father is gay and his mother was an alcoholic.

Orphan Boy

By Susan Fleming Allen

 

Golden as corn silk, yet unkept and straw,

 Thrust aside baby doll, drag against the floor.

Give Mama a reason, she’ll shake and pour

Slur her story, hick up and grin,

Shush sugar hush boy, your daddy likes men.

 

Boy becomes comet, flashes desolate through the black sky.

Meets a girl who stomps the flamenco, a peacock dance with red ruffles.

She’s an apple tree, fixed to the earth and cannot fly.

Tempted by their differing splendor, they sit under a wispy weeping willow,

Whispering Plath in between sweet, slow, soft, kisses.

 

Then she plucks the black tick out of his ear.

And there!  His matted straw hair

Makes her flesh shiver with chattering bones.

Abandoned he water skies, his smoothed skin skims the surface

Pulled along by shame, he shakes his head, blonde, wet, and alone,

 

And then he smiles at her.

She tastes the lake water dirt in his mouth.

And yet, she still has one wish

 To call him her own.

Author's Note

Any feedback is welcome.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you had me at "Plath"---
one of my two favorite poets ever, second only to Emily.
did my Masters thesis on her and Sexton.

Sylvia would relate to this...some lines like hers, "she tastes the lake water dirt in his mouth"
what a great line...he drowns, she meets him in her dreams and wants to go there with him.

so sad...he feels unloved, abandoned, orphaned really, more from a normal life than literally.

she wants to fly but can't, much like Sylvia...oh how i wish Ted would have drowned...and she could have lived.

this poem really took me several places at once...love it.

jacob

[Susan C. Allen]

Thanks for the review Jacob!

[Susan C. Allen]

Thanks Will...I am happy you read it.
Susan

[Will Neill]

Susan, A wonderful play on words.Great poem and a lovely family picture.
Will