Window Dressing

Image ~ Daniel Murtagh


She is to flirt, entice,
separate a man from
the money in his wallet.

Window dressing for lust,
she hates it, but lies keep
her chained to satin sheets.

She prefers her violin
with Mozart playing
across its strings.

No one recognizes hell
dresses in lace to burn
its damnation on unmarked skin.

Smile, your customer doesn’t
wish to know your grief…
He only wants you to be his escape.


©Susie Clevenger

Comments

Janet Martin said…
Raw and riveting imagery! This' Smile, your customer doesn’t
wish to know your grief…
He only wants you to be his escape.'

is layered,painful honesty. You really captured the image with your words! Well done.
Carrie Van Horn said…
You nailed this one Susie! :-)
Ellecee said…
I like this one,,,with the line "She prefers her violin with Mozart playing across its strings" I'm very sure she does!! Well done,,,
Helen said…
It is incredibly sad to think of the women who sacrifice their lives, their identities. You captured the emotion and the reality beautifully.
rel said…
Pitch perfect Susie.
rel
Brian Miller said…
No one recognizes hell
dresses in lace to burn
its damnation on unmarked skin.

dang....that is tight, and a great set up, cause you caught me right in the gut with...

Smile, your customer doesn’t
wish to know your grief…
He only wants you to be his escape

dang...
J Cosmo Newbery said…
Hard hitting and punchy. Nicely done.
Ginny Brannan said…
"Smile, your customer doesn’t
wish to know your grief…
He only wants you to be his escape."

How many women live this life, not who they are but who they must pretend to be. Excellent capture, Susie!
Tess Kincaid said…
Love the element of "window dressing"...clever...
Anonymous said…
Very honest and sad poem, reflecting the reality of many. I enjoyed the images a lot. I am just wondering if the last line is really necessary. For my taste, the poem is stronger finishing it with:
Smile, your customer doesn’t
wish to know your grief…

Just a thought... Great poem!
Reminds me of the ladies in the windows in Amsterdam and tells the story behind her well.
Anonymous said…
Oh love the ending! We never know the burdens of the other.
ayala said…
A good write, Susie.
kaykuala said…
Your customer doesn’t
wish to know your grief…
He only wants you to be his escape.

The very essence of business mania. They care for themselves only! Nicely Susie!

Hank
izzy said…
I love the end so true! thanks.
Laurie Kolp said…
Wow... love this, Susie, especially:

No one recognizes hell
dresses in lace to burn
its damnation on unmarked skin
Anonymous said…
strong emotions here. love the way you close the poem.
Anonymous said…
So full bodied...
Michael said…
man alive.... i felt this one like a cheap shot to the gut. whooshhhh...whos up for round two?
Love that last stanza! Great poem!
Anonymous said…
we all prefer Mozart on any instrument, especially a Soprano instrument!!
Roslyn Ross said…
Sex and sleep, perchance to dream. Nice.
This is a wonderful take on the prompt and you've captured the essence of the life style so well. This is masterful!
Beth Winter said…
There are many sad elements here. First, it is sad that anyone has to put their dreams and wishes aside to make a living and it is sad that there are people selfish enough to take what they want without caring about the person that they take from. Wonderfully written, Susie.