Kerb Crawler

a slice of memory

my mind converses with
my eighteen year old self
to ask why for God’s sake
are men such deceiving
b******s

my skin crawls at the thought
of his stale cigarette breath
breathing down my neck
his nicotine stained fingers
exploring fumbling
touching

I know his wife and kids
I wait at the bus stop on the
way to meet friends
duggie the desperate thinks
he has answered my prayers

his car creeps to a halt
he leans across the passenger seat
unwinds the window
and pleads with me to get in
he’ll wine and dine me he says
only the finest for me

he promises me the planet
anything you want is yours
name it
he has no shame
all that at his finger tips
and yet his lust is bursting
his pants

you’re married duggie I said
haven’t you made promises before
seems no sooner I leave my front door
he appears out of nowhere.

dream on duggie dream on
you aren’t the first and probably
not the last
a forecast ahead a sea swimming
in unfaithful misery

Reviews

[Neville]

if you let me have his co-ordinates, I still know a couple of half decent hit men .. I think I mentioned them before .. and ok, so it was in the past and you've clearly got over it .. but I haven't so there duggie .. Oh' n we aint all like that Chris .. maybe .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Duggie was a pain in the backside, a bit of a pest. Certainly not representative of the men I have known. Your hit man won’t be needed but I’m pleased you have got my back covered. I have it on good authority that years later, his long suffering wife ran off with someone else, took the kids and left him devastated. I think that was a bit of karma well placed. Isn’t it weird how this stuff regurgitates years later? Thank you for your thoughts and if I ever need a hit man, I know where to come.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

I don’t know why people in general have to be such disgusting creatures and won’t tell you alone when you tell them bluntly to go away. This creeper seems stalkerish freak that can’t be trusted

This made my skin crawl and my stomach drop at the thoughts of him preying on a young girl

[Chris Shaw]

He was a creep and persistent. He left me alone after my Dad sorted him out. He got his comeuppance years later. Yes, preying on young girls was crap behavior. We both agree on that.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

Well I’m glad he reaped the consequences of his actions later and I’m glad he left you alone after your dad sorted him out

[Anita Frader]

It's so upsetting to read because young girls are too often harassed by older men.
I've had my own share of unpleasant experiences and the memories are tough to shake.
Your writing brings it back so clearly. 💛

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Anita. A slice of life back in the day. It didn’t do me any harm but it taught me a lesson.

Chris

[John Sullivan]

A fine image of an unfortunate situation. What's the saying, "it takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch?"

[Chris Shaw]

Hello John. Duggie was a bit of a pest and he got his comeuppance years later when his wife left him. Nice bit of karma. He was a bad apple but he didn’t ruin the barrel. Thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[Lorry]

That's a great way to end up on a register, and I don't mean roll call!
Being a lady type woman (scared to use a prefix in case I get cancelled) does seem to have its perks, but I'll stick to being a guy thanks. It all sounds a bit much on the creepometer for me.
And as for Duggie, STOP LETTING THE TEAM DOWN you creepy git! ☺
Ps...trust you to get the sea into a poem not about the sea! ☺

[Chris Shaw]

This cancellation malarkey re pronouns and the like really gets on my nerves Lorry. Duggie was a first class pest, certainly not representative of the men I have known . Yep he was a creep and he got his comeuppance when his long suffering wife left him. Nice bit of karma dished out. Funny how this stuff comes back in our thoughts years later. Thanks for checking this one out.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

duggie will find his lust belt broken some day...he will be drowing in regret...
and the planets will spin and taunt him for his unfaithfulness.
And all he will have to give are lies.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Hi j . Duggie got his just desserts. On good authority I was told his long suffering wife left him years later, leaving him devastated. Nice bit of karma for a pest. A creep he was. Thank you for stopping by with your thoughts.

Chris