Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Slut

I feel like October's been insane. I've barely gotten a chance to sit down and breathe and write besides what I have to write for my college classes (which are so much fun, by the way). Luckily, one of my classes is English Comp 101, so we get to do lots of writing naturally there.

My professor is a total feminist and fangirl (she spent a good five minutes of class just raving about Poe and Orwell), and when I told her my idea for one of the creative assignments, she got so excited.

The prompt, in summary, was to consider how the world or certain attitudes might change if we got rid of one word. We could choose any word we wanted. I decided to remove the word “slut.” Here's the result:

Slut
Words,
whispers,
rolling off her bare back like
rain.
Stares,
silence,
only when she passes like a
fall breeze.
Jokes,
judgment,
all from those who barely know her
name.
Somehow they think they have the right to her
body.
But they don’t.
Hands off, because you don’t.
Mouths shut, because you don’t.
“Go home,” “Cover up,” “Slut,” “Slut,”
Slut.
Shut up.

#

Confident strides down
hallways wide with
packs of people who
can only gaze.
Legs, shaved or prickly,
shoulders, clothed or exposed,
but chin always tilted up,
she spares them little more than a second glance.
They have no words.
There are no words.
She is she,
and they are they,
and that must always be the way.

How has your October been? What do you think of the poem? Leave a comment!

9 comments:

J Fo said...

Love this Kate! "She is she" is so poignant. Thanks for sharing! Makes me miss being an English student with great teachers & prompts. And makes me miss teaching. Sheesh. So thanks a lot! 😉

Boquinha said...

I know we've already talked about this by email, but again - wow. This is powerful. Thank you for sharing it.

Dr. Mark said...

What a fantastic set of poems. I love it. I really think you have a gift for poetry. I'm blown away.

Unknown said...

This is really good, Kate! Keep it up!

Lara Liz said...

KATE THIS IS EVERYTHING. I love the subject matter, but honestly the way it's written is just beautiful - "mouths shut, because you don't", especially. I love the way that line shows how you don't have to touch someone's body to abuse it, that words can be just as powerful.

Thanks so much for sharing this! Really made me think.

Jimmy said...

Wow. This should be shared beyond just this blog.

Unknown said...

Kate,
Keep on keeping on. You have a powerful and truthful voice.

Boquinha said...

Love the inherent confidence in this line:

"she spares them little more than a second glance."

She's not letting their thoughts or judgments bother her. Excellent imagery - chin up, etc.

The Magic Violinist said...

@J Fo

Thank you! It's so much fun taking this English class. And my professor genuinely likes teaching all of us and listening to what we have to say. LOL, you're welcome. ;)

@Boquinha

Thanks! I had a lot of fun writing it. I'm glad it's getting such a good response.

@Dr. Mark

Thank you! I've never thought of myself as a poet, because I don't write poetry regularly, but whenever I do, I really enjoy it.

@Mary Freed

Thanks, Mary! :)

@Lara Liz

THANK YOU. Exactly, there are so many elements to this way of thinking. And whether it's physical or verbal abuse, it still messes with a person's head.

@Jimmy

I might try submitting this to a contest or a website sometime. :) Thanks!

@Jesse Porter

Thank you, Jesse! :)