Poem 34 of 230: FOR KIN - LAMENTED TO ME
She squats down and rests her head on her knee:
Stretching her muscles - so tired is she.
A quick glance at her watch...time takes so long:
Still three minutes left - must be one more song.
It’s her very last turn upon the stage,
But men are eyeing her - wanting to rage.
She finishes her dance, picks up her things -
To the hope of home and a rest she clings.
But the doorman-cum-pimp has other news,
For two customers have money to use.
Wearily she follows to their hotel -
Sometimes she thinks: “Might be better in hell.”
As vain men take turns on the rented bed,
She consoles herself: “I could starve instead.”
Plus the pay for sex is more than for dance,
And it much improves her kin’s circumstance.
(C) David Franks 2003
She squats down and rests her head on her knee:
Stretching her muscles - so tired is she.
A quick glance at her watch...time takes so long:
Still three minutes left - must be one more song.
It’s her very last turn upon the stage,
But men are eyeing her - wanting to rage.
She finishes her dance, picks up her things -
To the hope of home and a rest she clings.
But the doorman-cum-pimp has other news,
For two customers have money to use.
Wearily she follows to their hotel -
Sometimes she thinks: “Might be better in hell.”
As vain men take turns on the rented bed,
She consoles herself: “I could starve instead.”
Plus the pay for sex is more than for dance,
And it much improves her kin’s circumstance.
(C) David Franks 2003
