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Oldest profession

R P Edwards

June 23 
Narrative
       Oldest profession
Her lipsticks a little smeared
Eyeliners not on quite straight
The clients they don't notice
They just take you in the back
Load you up with their dirty seed
Hopeful of a discount for cash
Hopeful  for a kind word even
You barely notice the pounding
As they take you on that motel mattress
You're busy doing the math
Rent and utilities you'll pay
A little something for the arm
A taste that burns going in
Feels hot then warm then peaceful
It keeps you in this game
It dulls the slaps your old man delivers
Deafens the name calling
As the bum rides your gravy train
You've heard it all from the like
Throughout the ages
It comes with the job description
Plus the occasional medical prescription

                                R P Edwards

About this poem

The things men and women may do when they are pressed for a penny and need to ease their unbearable loneliness

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Written on June 21, 2023

Submitted by royboyjogger on June 20, 2023

42 sec read
70

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXBXXXCDBXXXCXXXDXXXAA X
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 769
Words 138
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 23, 1
Full analysis for Oldest profession »

R P Edwards

Not much to tell. Like every human being I have stories to tell. Hopefully they help people appreciate this wonderful life we are gifted and hopefully the words I write can be helpful to people and bring a measure of peace to their lives. That's what I'm aiming for. Maybe I'll find fame and fortune along the way. Ha ha ha. more…

All R P Edwards poems | R P Edwards Books

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1 Comment
  • Jewoo525
    Jewoo525
    I loved this poem for how visceral and unapologetic it is. Like saying something taboo, but common knowledge, out loud in the middle of a quiet restaurant. Although I don't particularly like the subject matter, I think the skill with which the poem is crafted is part of the rhetoric of speaking about such a topic: it forces you to confront it. I like how it challenged me to think about these things, things we would rather brush under the rug and forget about, it made me squeamish but held my attention so that I finish. I appreciate how bold the poet is for submitting this to the contest, if not for their guts I would not have had the opportunity to read something so very outside my comfort zone.

    Excellent work. Keep writing!     
    LikeReply9 months ago
    • royboyjogger
      royboyjogger
      this is high praise my fellow laureate. I thank you sincerely. A comment like yours is better than any prize money. Thank you again.
      LikeReply 19 months ago

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"Oldest profession" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/163845/oldest-profession>.

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