Disconnect
He was the kind of man
who got off on talk,
preferring a woman apply
deep massage with dirty words
as if words were safer, cheaper
than an unscripted act,
a kiss
some bill too much to pay.
She didn't mind
a little wordplay
but there's a place
where words
and he
will never go.
~August 2012
55 words of long distance wisdom for
also
Posted for Meeting the Bar:Writing Characters at dVerse Poet's Pub
Image: Photo of Aphrodisiac Telephone(Salvador Dali, 1938) by jpellgen on flick'r
Shared under a Creative Commons LicenseOptional Musical Accompaniment
Hedge--yes, I know someone like this. I prefer the danger of the nscripted and physical kind. Love this!
ReplyDeleteSad in its own right, JoyAnn. I can't imagine being on either end of the conversation of this type (well, I can imagine it but don't want to). It seems a pathology of intimacy but I guess it's safe. This character lends itself to analysis, for sure.
ReplyDeleteha...and we all know...words are not safer at all...and never cheap..ha...well penned hedge!!
ReplyDelete"as if words were safer, cheaper
ReplyDeletethan an unscripted act . . . "
Those sneaky little as-ifs come in and give it all away, as did he, though I suspect he was not interested in either love or lust.
There are those among us who harbor unbalanced tastes, eccentric lusts; and too often we discover them too late to save the barb of hurt emotions. This piece stings with feminine truth. Nice 55 too. Brian had one as well. I haven't stopped by G-Man's for a while, now that he has returned.
ReplyDeleteLove the ending!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Congrats on your recent publication!
Deletedolp...he just got blocked...smiles....i def dont mind a little wordplay to get the fire started...you got to be careful though and make sure both know they are having that conversation though...smiles....
ReplyDeleteOooh, I'm sure I've encountered this guy... ;) Cleverly minimalist. And I love that phone.
ReplyDeleteOh well done - so much said in so few words!
ReplyDeleteI know some men like that...
Anna :o]
Tersely said and deeply affecting. Indeed there are inner sanctums no one is allowed to enter. Very affecting, Joy. Another brilliant poem!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Short and sassy sweet!
ReplyDeleteWords seemingly are safer...But not always!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll enjoy my 55 posted after 8 PM.
You were less poetic tonight Joy.
But just as superb!!!
Loved your 55
Thanks for playing, thanks for Rockin the Funfest, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
Sometimes words hurt more... Nice 55 (and that photo!) ha.
ReplyDeleteOh, man. I think I lived this, once. It's a little like those people who are so busy using their phones to record something, that they're not really present to experience it, not to mention the control factor. It's scary to just be in the moment and ride those rapids; it isn't in everyone to do it. At least, that's how read this poem.
ReplyDeleteExactly--to me, it's a way to avoid intimacy, not create it, but then, stuff like that freaks me out--I'm sure it can be exciting for some.
DeletePS--"Desolation Row", on your side bar, is one of my favorites, evah.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture and your 55 ...what a story!
ReplyDeleteI always tell my kids, words are so precious, if you have nothing to say, say nothing at all. Kudos, HW!
Mine is here
Have you a ROCKING AND BLESSED WEEKEND!!!
hugs
shakira
I am relieved to note that is not your actual telephone! Good write, Joy.
ReplyDeleteHa! I love lobster, but not in my ear. ;_)
Deleteyeah, all one sided is not good at all, and some things should never be said...
ReplyDeleteIs that a Dali lobster-telephone? Such a perfect image to exemplify your theme; and here I'm impressed with the ease that you've taken the two perspectives on the dirty talk - the man's and the woman's - and pit them against each other, two sides of the same conversation.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam. Yes, it's a photo of the one at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts--it has a certain flair, yes?
DeleteUgh. Why am I thinking Spitzer. Great poem, makes me feel sad. k.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
ReplyDeleteOh deep... I'm glad she has that place to keep for her own.
ReplyDeleteoh yes...she keeps a place of her own, leaving all that in the coils of the telephone wires!
ReplyDeleteThe claw as metaphor for his character....very creative.;)
ReplyDeletei loved this. i can't say anything else....this was a beautiful read to me for some reason....
ReplyDeletevery neat Hedge, great use of character sketching here, done in a way, so smoothly, the reader would never guess a conscientious attempt to illustrate character was being made, just the poem itself, and the character organically grew through it. Awesome job. And I have to admit, I totally want one of those lobster phones after seeing it, just to have, not to use.
ReplyDeleteTalk is cheap - but not on premium rate chat lines!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great piece of writing.
My 55 are here.
Superb write - and words just aint all that safe, are they?
ReplyDeleteAh, the source of all that stuff in my spambox! Well thought through and readworthy!
ReplyDeleteJust got to be careful with what is being said. It may not be good enough to start the ball rolling. Great write Joy!
ReplyDeleteHank
Very cool! really enjoyed both words and photo-thanks.
ReplyDeleteSharp slaps here to the type of man who'd think that was a step too far
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be the norm now, sex with words, while it's a lot safer, it seems attachments could still form and some end up hurt when all the fun is over.
ReplyDeleteVery thought provoking.
http://missy-itsmyworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/vacation-55.html
Great character sketch, of both. Love this: "preferring a woman apply
ReplyDeletedeep massage with dirty words"
sounds like this guy was definitely missing out ;-) very nicely writ, thanks joy
ReplyDeleteCreepy and somehow very melancholy - Like Nara I love preferring a woman apply
ReplyDeletedeep massage with dirty words"
this is a quick cut of words, clearly descripted... "cheaper than an unscripted act" you nailed it with this, Joy.
ReplyDeleteMany have come before me to marvel at this gem! I will add my fascination at your process which takes common characteristics and crafts them into a most singular sketch.
ReplyDeleteZing! No wonder this 55 is such a popular one, Hedge!
ReplyDelete