the red whore

By Jonas

a window pane
glass fermented old
like sepia
and it is a photograph of asphalt
and archaic walls
chipped paint
water stains
behind my blinds and thru
the pane's absinthe eyes
she is dismal
and as she moves
scratchy
twisted
steps
warped softened and strange
from my side through the glass
i can muster no heartbreak
only a sick sensation of heat thru my whole body
i vomit the contents of my bloated ambition
onto the cold tile floor
a sort of mockery, unintended
to her mind; ravenous for the sustenance of
some strange amphetamine
cooked up by a nasty brother
who lives poor but does the finest blow
these eyes are fitting
for now
for her
as it is easier to strike her down
onto a distorted photograph
a little less elegant than those that hold ladies, painted and in lace
less than saints romanticized of the city's younger days
but i need her a little less real than a girl my age given up to
a greasy man named dan
the fat retired pharmacist staying at the larkin inn
across the street
where i find myself a shout out away from a date of my own
were i so taken
so i am taken away by my mind's own greeds
to hide from guilt and god and what has become of my own dreams

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.
Copyright 2003 Jonas Downer
Published on Friday, January 17, 2003.     Filed under: "Poetry"
Log In or Join (free) to see the special features here.

Comments on "the red whore"

Log in to post comments.
  • Dilated View On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Dilated View (583)By person wrote:

    Totally worthy of PotD. The visuals throughout were top notch and the content raw and honest. Felt myself being drug line to line like some amphetamine flashback, where I made every promise in the world but follow up on none of them, where the morning after, typically days later, feels like the movie Momento. Very nicely done,

  • Cassette On Thursday, January 4, 2018, Cassette (1144)By person wrote:

    wow, wow, wow. your imagery is so gorgeous.

  • carlosjackal On Monday, February 20, 2017, carlosjackal (3016)By person wrote:

    Possibly one of the all time greatest poems about a prostitute ever written just for its sheer honesty.

  • Circe Avalon On Sunday, October 8, 2006, Circe Avalon (115)By person wrote:

    Well don't I feel cheap. Your poem is very real and puts me into the scene like a third person. Almost pity, no not pity, it's not my place to pity the characters in this scene. well put together~*~

  • A former member wrote: wow this is biting and sounding familiar *I may know that brother* I love the shift in perspective that occurs when you move from speaking of her to speaking of you... smooth transition

  • A former member wrote: because the girl your age simply need 'her' to be less real, ha ha ha... that is so what I need, to be a little less real... I think I love you, your poetry that is ;)

  • Jaded Jezzabelle On Monday, January 19, 2004, Jaded Jezzabelle (328)By person wrote:

    your talent for creating a visual that can be heard smelled felt as well as seen is fucking amazing.I almost want to go shower to wash away the red phos from my pores....good one

  • Jaded Jezzabelle On Monday, January 19, 2004, Jaded Jezzabelle (328)By person wrote:

    and dont take this the wrong way please....but you fucking amuse the shit out of me....take care...and keep writing

  • Anoblechicken On Monday, January 19, 2004, Anoblechicken (38)By person wrote:

    "cooked up by a nasty brother who lives poor but does the finest blow " You know how to capture a very vivid picture in ones mind.. you truely are unique and i hoope to see many more works of yours... Happy chickens!

  • IceDragoness On Saturday, April 26, 2003, IceDragoness (195)By person wrote:

    I Felt this, like my hands were running over everything, slowly, purposely... You're good

  • liquid_emotion On Tuesday, March 25, 2003, liquid_emotion (323)By person wrote:

    god, I love this poem. I mean really, really love it. I swam in this poem drowning in the words.... the same words that saved me. I really did.

  • Ravenblade On Tuesday, March 18, 2003, Ravenblade (313)By person wrote:

    This was awesome, reminds me of a hangover I once had, I noticed so many things wrong with the place I was in, this poem brought that back in the imagery you used. I can feel where you're coming from with this poem

  • liquid_emotion On Friday, February 28, 2003, liquid_emotion (323)By person wrote:

    agree, agree, agree, we all agree!!! Fish is great!! I see why it's a favorite... I'd never read it before... it reminds me of cigar smoke and jasmine

  • A former member wrote: I agree with the other 2, you choose the best place to end each line

  • A former member wrote: you write well and i agree you have great imagery i like this

  • A former member wrote: great imagery! wonderful tone. sultry and dark, just the way i like em! -cat

  • Jonas On Friday, January 17, 2003, Jonas (720)By person wrote:

    you've made my day! in that "sultry" was EXACTLY the tone i was aiming for... i tend to have trouble hitting the tone i want.

Contribution Level

Poets Bookmarking This Work
Jonas's Favorite Poets
Jonas's Favorite Works
Share/Save This Post



Join DarkPoetry Join to get a profile like this for yourself. It's quick and free.

How to Criticize Without Causing Offense
© 1998-2024 DarkPoetry LLC
Donate
[Join (free)]    [More Poetry]    [Get Help]    [Our Poets]    [Read Poems]    [Terms & Privacy]