Upon Julia�s Breast

 

His eyes did rest upon Julia’s breast
as she spoke or questioned or sighed,
until she shaved her head one day
to spite his wandering eye;
now when she speaks or quests or sighs
his eyes rest on her barren brow,
on the memory of her hairline
and the fate that awaits him now.

 

 

 

Published in Haz Mat Literary Review: Vol 7, Issue 2

Reviews

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

I like this. It is simple and honest and yet completely relate-able. I may just be a stereotypical male in that I have no apologies for knowing that in some cases it is hard not to be drawn to look at the breasts of a woman, but it is also not my intention to focus on them...It is an "ID" thing, and my deep down primordial mind is just urging me to look when my more advanced brain is just on autopilot. Therefore, if anything else can draw my higher functions away I am relieved, like looking at a hairline. I have had the experience a few times of a particularly attractive girl shaving her hair off, and that drawing my attention away from anything else. In my personal opinion, this is a wonderful snippet and complete in and of itself, but NONETHELESS, I kind of wish for more story line. Might this story be continued in another poem, like part of a series? For example, a series of snapshots -little short poems like this that all add up to a larger story, the way many movies from Hollywood nowadays interweave storylines. Look at Babel as an idea. (It isn't my favorite movie, but it is a series of little stories.)

[Marie Starr]

Happens to the best of us... lol... esp when women wear them "out" & all... The poem hints at the fact that the man in the situation doesn't have much more than a physical attraction but, like most humans, we don't want to admit to ourselves or others our own shallowness. Sometimes it takes an extreme word or action to make someone realize something. From the woman's perspective, she has come into her own. She is not only calling attention to the fact that she is displeased with his focus being on just her body rather than body & mind, but also to test his implied assertions that is "listening" rather than oogling more often than not. But mostly, I consider this my comedic poem.

[Marie Starr]

It's funny that you mention the series of snapshots - i call them small world poems & i'm working on compiling a book of them right now. It is a great idea :)

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

Yeah, women do often wear them "out" -loud and proud. Tonight I actually was in a funny position because I was with a whole bunch of old friends I had not seen for years at a birthday party. There were a few women there who have, shall I dare say "developed" since we were all in school together long ago. They are also married though, and long past any silly intrigues of that high school crush stuff. Just funny because I was all to aware of my having to avoid looking at things I didn't mean to. Hard though, I think we all have that basic human fascination with people's bodies. It isn't all just sexual. It is just a way to keep up with how a person is doing. We know it is somehow socially acceptable to say, "Oh hey, you've lost weight!" However, to say, "Hey, your breasts look great nowadays...When did that change?" -is really not an acceptable way to enter into a conversation. As an anthropology major in school this always makes me a little too aware of these things. It does sometimes take an extreme word or action to make someone realize something, and I see your point. Good to know the background of where this guy is coming from, attraction-wise, and also where the woman is coming from. It is a very experiential poem that way then, because different people might get a different idea from it depending on their own internal struggle with these things. That is a good thing though, because good art is always a good mirror I think. Good art makes you ask questions of yourself like you clearly have gotten me to do! Comedy makes for some of the best dramatic devices in art! Humor is a great medium.

You are working on a book of snapshots!! HA!!! Maybe I am perceptive after all!!! Great to know!!! Well, perhaps as cliché as it is to say, great minds think alike!!

[Marie Starr]

yes. I like to leave things loose enough for the reader to interpret in their own way. it's that interactive part of art :)

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

It is a unique aspect to your writing I think.

[Una Xoto]

amazing.

[poetforlife]

LOL! THis is brilliant! I loved it. What a great read.