Ivory Simone is the author of two books, Havasu Means Blue Water (literary fiction) and The Rainy Season, The Poems, Prose, and Writings of Ivory Simone. Both books are available at Amazon. Ivory also hosts 2 online shows: Bangkok Poetry Streams (dedicated to the enjoyment of poetry and prose) and Take a Bite Out of the Big Mango (a BlogTalkRadio show about ex-pat lifestyles and happenings in and around Bangkok).
Safe
By Ivory Simone
By Ivory Simone
Safe is manicured lawns with colorful rows of
azaleas bursting out at the seams.
Nature’s wildness subdued by suburban
gardeners determined to reform
her slutty ways.
Safe is laughter rumbling out of jazzy cafes
where pretty women with bright lipstick
gather to whisper secrets and
flirt with tattooed waiters.
Sharp manicured nails
ready to tear into
fresh meat.
To stay safe you must pretend not to
see the lopsided houses filled with
lopsided people across the tracks.
Or the children with old eyes
that stare at your shiny black car
speeding past.
To stay safe you must pretend not
to see the swastika tattoo on the
tanned neck of the young waiter.
His crisp white shirt and snug dungarees
making him indistinguishable from the others
whose numbers are tucked away
in your purse.
What you can’t see won’t hurt you.
You wear sunglasses.
You’re safe.
Haunting and beautiful. Thank you.
This one really makes me think of how right you are. Safe is not what our world seems now.
Yes, this is haunting and true.
Love this one!