Dark Ages

Cherry

By Bee

Fri, 19 Dec 2014
  • 8806 reads
17 comments
 

Pride was a joke belched out 
by blokes that sucked 
on roll ups down the pub
whilst women waited home for dosh -
with hungry kids asleep 
beneath a pile of threadbare coats.

Cash in hand was what it was; cash
in his instead of hers.
Wherefore art thou friendly star? Guiding him, 
his belly full of beery cheer

and backhand fists a-ready at the slightest hint 
of fuss. Be silent lest your 'love' 
should be returning from that other world,
knowing what for; who's who, and you 
forever in the dark.

Certificate 15
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks so much for the cherries. smiley

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Hard times for women.  Hard times still, but at least women can make and keep their own money now.

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Philip.

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Very visual writing again, Bee.

I think it was in one of the Welsh revivals that the pubs were having to close, because the attendance dropped so much [reminiscent of the anger of silver idol makers in Ephesus because Paul was saying that 'man-made idols are no gods at all' (Acts 17:26)]. But I think family life and poverty was immediately helped. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

That's really interesting, Rhiannon. 

Thank you.

 

Bee

Submitted by love_writing on

Great opening line- Pride was a joke belched out

I enjoyed reading this thanks Bee.

 

 

love_writing

Submitted by Bee on

Glad you liked that. Thanks LW. 

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee

Another very good poem for your collection of work on abused women. Have you thought of publishing it as a group? Or getting in touch with someone who would have contact with a woman's shelter who possibly publishes a newsletter or something like that. Your work should get a wider reading.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Now there's an idea, Jean! I have made quite a collection of variations on this theme - I'll have a think. Thank you so much.

Bee

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

Or think about approaching publishers with a chapbook mss.  There may even be grants out there to do so  - you could raise funds for battered women or some such cause at the same time.  This is a very good poem - well-deserved cherries!

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks so much fo that, Frances. I'll definitely look into it. And thanks for reading.

Bee

Submitted by RJF on

Really enjoyed this Bee, thought provoking as always. Well done on the cherries. R

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks R, for reading and for congrats. Lovely to hear from you. 

Hope to see you soon.

Bee

Submitted by VeraClark on

It's transporting in old school hats and coats.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Vera. 

 

Bee

Submitted by celticman on

no pride in working class when it's a clenched fist and wife and children come further down the punching order than well, pick and mix. visual and honest. Well done. 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks for the 'well done' CM - means a lot.

Bee