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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
INITIATION, by LAURENT TAILHEDE Poet's Biography First Line: At saint mande. Amid the merry-makers Last Line: "said, ""you may touch it, sir; it will not bite." Subject(s): Merchants; Prostitution; Tents; Harlots; Whores; Brothels | |||
At Saint Mandé. Amid the merry-makers The barker modestly praised his merchandise: For men only, over eighteen; they weren't fakers— A Venus of truly extraordinary size. Soldiers, and callow youths who might be half The age went in, to see if she matched the barker's wager; Under the tent, massive, and a true old stager, In frills and flesh tights she exhibited her calf. Alone, a collegian whose wide eyes traced The great mass from the feet up to the waist Dropped another coin in the cash-box for the right And to the platform sheepishly pushed on; And in a maternal tone the Phenomenon Said, "You may touch it, sir; it will not bite." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVING YOU IN FLEMISH by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A MAN AND WOMAN ABSOLUTELY WHITE by ANDRE BRETON AFTER THREE PHOTOGRAPHS OF BRASSAI by NORMAN DUBIE THE VIOLENT SPACE by ETHERIDGE KNIGHT AN OLD WHOREHOUSE by MARY OLIVER CHICAGO CABARET by KENNETH REXROTH FOR A MASSEUSE AND PROSTITUTE by KENNETH REXROTH HARRISON STREET COURT by CARL SANDBURG HELEN; THE LABORATORY OF FAUST AT WITTENBERG by LAURENT TAILHEDE |
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