Living In A Man's World

A poem for Devon's Image Contest

Living In A Man’s World

Drawing from 

This robust cigarette

Bummed from a neighbor,

 

Searching for

Some sort of balance

For being a feminine woman

Active in the roughness

Of a man’s world,

 

Lately, as these tedious hours

Tick away

My jubiliant spirit has faded,

 

How I long to run wild and free

From the boundaries

Of this stale dwelling,

 

Shedding all of my uncertainties,

 Engaging wholeheartedly

In all of my life pursuits,

 

But this is a man’s world,

Filled with clouds of cigar smoke and

Outlandish bravado swaggers,

Outside of my unscathed petal rooms

Softness is rarely tolerated

 

Pink hues,

Flowers and sweet perfume

Have no place

Once I escape

These walls of lace

 

Being feminine is a felony

Out in this haggard world

Unless I’m flat on my back

And it’s bedtime

 

Working the same professions

And hours as a man,

Living practically

The same lifespan,

Yet his wages

By far outweigh my own

 

Why should I dress

Like a steely business man?

 

With all the

Rigid pen stripes,

               Baggy long pants,

                            Restricting power suits,

 

Hiding my soft round curves

And smooth silky skin

From the wandering hands and 

Eyes of this hungry world?

 

With my clever intellect

And my feminine intuition,

Perhaps I’ll stay secure

In here for awhile

And watch the scattered men

Scramble by.

Author's Note

When I saw this image, this is what I saw.

Reviews

[Mrs.Darcy]

Sometimes it feels safer inside our own feminine world. I like your interpretation of the artwork and your strong, effective images--such a complete vision! Thank you for your kind review of my poem and for adding it to your library, as well. Much appreciated.

[Poetic Beauty]

The imagery is stunning and you brought about an old world feel but really it is still a man's world if you take a close look around you. The feeling of being trapped because of what society says is right and what is wrong. You have put great thought into this poem and I loved each stanza especially the one with cigar smoke and swagger.

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

I like this for it's stand and also for the unspoken of what hovers between the lines regarding at what cost the female gender has shed the feminine principle~ women have fought for equality for decades in this particular society~ and in the end what we've won is a man's swagger for our own or lip glossed w****s plastered across the world eye~ (before some fems bite my head off, we did advance as far as equal pay and equal determination in the job market however the majority is still objectified)
the individual stance here is refreshing~

[SR Urie]

Hey Marie,

Excellent sentiment in our amazing modern world. I imagine it's difficult enough to be a beautiful woman, but even tougher taking the role in what is no longer exactly a man's world.

You're a beautiful woman, Marie. BZ

[Becky C Strukamp]

You did an outstanding write here. It was truly amazing how you captured the mans world and living in one. Great imagary. I loved it. Bravo!!!

[sugar]

wow from such a simple omage you got this? so amazing, great job

[Darkest Rose]

Fab write! Love how you related it to the image! The wording and the structure are fab! Love the amazing write :)

[Kelsie Eileen Stark]

Brilliantly done. I have seen the same image, and thought the same thing.
This kept me reading.
Wonderful job!~

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

Nice analytical poem about the image!

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Makes perfect sense to me. As a woman I have asked many of these questions myself. Excellent piece.