Don't those pollsters know
that married women
lie in the presence
of their husbands?They lie mostly about
money and politics.
And sex. That, too.
They sneak shopping bags
in the back door.If their husbands notice
something new,
they say, "What?
This ole thing?"
And when they pullthat poll booth curtain
closed, who's to know?
And white women, well,
they'll vote for a woman
or a black manwithout flinching. And smile
while they do it. Just like
they smile when asked
"Was it good for you, too,
honey?" "Why, yes,"they say. "Yes."
[This poem has been published at New Verse News.]
UPDATED 15 JAN: I've posted a response to comments on this poem here: Politics & Poetics
This is excellent. Really cuts to the bone <~) Have you considered submitting to The New Verse News? This is the kind of thing that audience would appreciate. I am known as "HL" on NVN, my latest was on Jan 1, The New Verse News: NOT TOO LATE FOR COMMUTATION
btw, thanks for the comment on TOP.
Posted by: Alan Bender | 13 January 2008 at 03:18 PM
Thanks for the suggestion, Alan. I did submit, though we'll see if posting on one's personal blog counts as 'previous publication.'
Posted by: SB | 13 January 2008 at 07:35 PM
Yes!
Posted by: Alan Ender | 14 January 2008 at 09:25 AM
Well gone with your bad self! Ain't madatcha as we black women like to say. lol
Posted by: susan | 14 January 2008 at 01:37 PM
Why, thank you!
< curtsies >
Posted by: SB | 14 January 2008 at 01:52 PM
well done.
ya know, one of the things that kinda bothers me about absentee ballots is that so many women have abusive husbands watching over their shoulders as they fill them out...
Posted by: catnappiing | 14 January 2008 at 02:02 PM
Oh, this is so true! That ending is perfect!
Posted by: | 14 January 2008 at 03:54 PM
I like the plainspoken tone to your poem, and the truth it tells.
Posted by: Christine | 14 January 2008 at 06:17 PM
Excellent poem
However, I need to say something else entirely.
Anyone has the right to vote to anyone he/she wishes too.
And categorising as Woman or Black man is demeaning. We vote for a person, not to any gender or colour.
We Indians learnt that 60 years back since our independence.
Just my thought. No offense ment.
Posted by: gautami tripathy | 14 January 2008 at 10:30 PM
Well this just sings! Very well done, I really enjoyed it......Yes I did.
Posted by: Jo | 15 January 2008 at 05:39 AM
I've posted a response to comments on this poem here: Politics & Poetics
I hope I don't sound defensive; I'm actually interested and excited to see such interest in something I've done. I've rarely given one of my own poems this kind of attention; my poems rarely get this (particular) kind of attention from others.
Posted by: SB | 15 January 2008 at 10:21 AM
Excellent poem. It's good to see that poetry still has the power to ruffle feathers.
Posted by: Jim Murdoch | 16 January 2008 at 04:00 AM
Sharon, in case you didn't know . . . you've been linked by Andrew Sullivan; that's how I found my way here this time, as opposed to my direct link to you.
Congrats.
Posted by: John B. | 16 January 2008 at 07:08 PM
i am sure there is some sort of political connotation to this,,, but being blatantly apolitical didn't stop me from seeing some definitely funny truths....
Posted by: paisley | 16 January 2008 at 10:19 PM
Way to go! Nice link and a worthy piece. This truth is funnier than fiction!
Posted by: Tumblewords | 16 January 2008 at 10:36 PM
Hopefully, they're not all lying about that last one all the time.
Posted by: PaulS | 16 January 2008 at 11:50 PM
This was so deliciously sweet and simple after the days of analysis written by the experts. You may be closest to the truth. Can you pen something similar about the Diebold machines? :-)
Found you via Andrew Sullivan. Nice work!
Thanks!
Posted by: BarbArt | 17 January 2008 at 12:39 AM
The poem's not bad, except insofar as it assumes men as a group are generally bad at sex, easily duped, and angry to hear about anyone voting for someone female or black.
Posted by: hotspur | 17 January 2008 at 11:34 AM
I think I must have written a good poem here -- since a good poem must serve as a mirror to the reader. And readers of this one see very different and surprising things...
Posted by: SB | 17 January 2008 at 12:08 PM