PROSTITUTE'S SON

Wrote for the contest Poetry Form of Albert

PROSTITUTE’S SON

Same shame I felt

When they asked me

Who is my father.

Same ignominy gripped me

When they asked me

Why my mother works in the night

Same disgrace shattered me

When they asked me

Why my mother is not coming to see me.

I knew who is a prostitute

But my classmates knew a prostitute is bad

I knew my mother is good

But lessons said a prostitute is bad

I knew I have no escape

But, my restless soul is searching for a way out

I am not a prostitute.

But money I pay is that of a prostitute

Money I pay is that of men who pay a prostitute

My mess fee is that of a prostitute

My boarding fee is that of a prostitute

My tuition fee is that of a prostitute.

My body is made of a prostitute’s.

It is still eating a prostitute’s food

I want to vomit what I eat

Which school can teach me

To escape from this cage

Into which I am born,to pay for a sin,not mine.

Reviews

[RDOriginal]

In this poem you've done an excellent job of taking a taboo subject and spreading an awareness to the reader.

Sometimes prostitution is seen as a victimless crime but here you remind us that the prostitute may have a family and they too live under the same shadow. You really drive the message home when you list all of the educational bills that are paid for with this money, 'my mess fee is that of a prostitute my boarding fee is that of a prostitute my tuition fee is that of a prostitute'. These are all such positive things but subsidised in such a negative way. It really breaks the stereotype that some assume a prostitutes earnings are spent on drugs or alcohol.

The main emotional feature that stands out for me in this poem is one of the tremendous guilt the child feels. Everything in her life is paid for with what she sees as immoral earnings but that is only half the story. When the narrator confides, 'my body is made of a prostitutes' as a reader we learn that the work of the mother has uttery tainted the child. This is confirmed with the acknowledgement that life is seen as a 'cage' which no lesson can provide an escape from.

Technically I like the way you've stuck with the use of the word 'prostitute' rather than rely on euphemisms. The word has a certain stigma and it's regular occurrence in the poem prevents the reader from maybe shying away from the reality.

I really like the informative nature of this poem and the fact that you've not voiced your own opinion here. Rather it's left to the reader to decide based entirely on the story and their feeling for the narrator.

[Alicia Schroeder]

Oh wow!! This is a great topic, although it is sad.. You should not feel bad for someone elses actions, you are still a clean soul, maybe she just got mixed up in the wrong lifestyle, but wanted to make sure her child was taken care of.. I'm really not sure how to respond to this, except great courage to put something like this out there.. Amazing!!! :)

[Nautili]

What I appreciate is that the mother wants a better life for her daughter and sees education as a way for her to find it. I bet the mother in this poem has her own sense of shame as well, but I still feel her mother's heart, making sure her daughter has what she needs to succeed, even if she does not feel worthy enough to visit her. Sad slice of life, you brought it alive vividly asnd poignantly.

[David W Moore III]

To me, the best and most powerful poetry leaves the reader thinking after they have finished. Whether it's to reevaluate something in their life or just to try to figure it out. This piece does that. And does it well. I am still ruminating over the contrast between the popular (popular as in the image most subscribed to - not that it is a popular person) image of prostitution and the variation you have presented here. Well done.

[Rick Puetter]

Dear JENY,

Wonderful poem. Yes, prostitutes are people and they have the emotions of people. Some have children that they love. The job of a prostitute is rarely by choice. It is a last resort. And it is society's stigma that this child bares. There is nothing sinful in the money that pays for food, boarding and tuition. It is a shame that society puts on the act of prostitution. Somehow sex in marriage is alright and even sex between unwed consenting people is alright in many circles, but if there is money involved, if there is no love, then sex is sinful and shameful. Why is it that providing sex for money is wrong when providing any other service is not? It is a taboo that society provides. Throughout most of the world at one time you could buy people for money and that was thought to be okay. Society sanctioned it. Now it is wrong. Protitution is a victimless crime. Both parties are consenting, and if there are consequences because a child may feel shame, it is only so because society looks down on the child and the mother. And let's remember that much of society would prevent abortion of such a baby because life is so holy, but in the next breath the same people would shun this holy life because the mother was a prostitute. So which is it? Is all life holy or not?

A wonderfully provokative poem.

Best regards,

Rick

[Angel Veselinov]

Very sad and touching poem really recreating a reality and world of a prostitutes son I could actually feel this boys pain and emotions thanks for sharing :)

[Livenrite]

WoW! Powerful. Thanks for sharing:)

[James Watts]

A good poem that reminds us that some of the choices we make create victims

[Sean Allen]

Very well done poem Jene, I watched the documentary Born into brothels last year and this reminded me of it.

Donn

[A.Lee]

Wow. I really like this. Makes you wonder how you would really feel... Its not the child's fault what their mother was, but that the life they're forced to live. Forced to pay the price for their mother's sins. Nicely written. Touching.