The Martian Mystique
The antipodal mechanic stared
at the tattoo placed high
on her right ankle,
symbol of Venus indelibly etched
on a peninsula of delicate flesh.
He said—
it’s true,
you don’t need us men.
You should kill us all.
You’d do so much better by yourselves.
She laughed silently
at the nearness of that potential
while he continued tinkering
with the battery,
quietly adding to her bill
fully confident in the invisible symbol
of masculinity
emblazoned from birth
across his insensate, depleted chest.
Ha! If only we knew how to fix our own cars.
… This is great. The ending is sad, of course … his confidence in his lack of confidence or self-worth, the definition of masculinity altered from the traditional. At least, that’s my take on it. This is my favorite: “symbol of Venus indelibly etched on a peninsula of delicate flesh” … and the title.
I’d say your interpretation on this one is very much in line with my intent.
“… his confidence in his lack of confidence or self-worth, the definition of masculinity altered from the traditional.”
My comment on this would only be to say that the traditional definition of masculinity defines men as having capabilities that somehow seem to elude the grasp of women. Outside of pure physical strength and an incessant drive to dominate, there is nothing in that traditional definition of masculinity that typically lies outside the scope of most women. In the same sense, besides the physical ability to birth a child and the inherent nurturing instinct which typically coincides with that process, there is also nothing in the traditional definition of femininity that typically lies outside the scope of most men. Generally, it’s more about thoughtfulness and applied effort. Thank you, Shawna.
“quietly adding to her bill” – this is SO true. My husband used to manage a tire store and he told me stories of how the salesmen would talk when a woman would show up (they add to your bill before you even walk through the door)!
But in this poem is he assuming she is gay because of the tattoo? And so that’s why his chest is insensate and depleted (from her perspective)?
I like the tension in this poem between the two – he quietly adding to her bill; she laughing at the “nearness of that potential.”
For me. I didn’t intend for an underlying gay theme, but certainly when you talk about an alliance of women where men are not wanted/needed, it seems that possibility is unavoidable. I’d more so say that many men jump to the assumption that when a woman is strong and confident in herself, (her intelligence, character, sexuality, etc.) that she must be a lesbian. Perhaps this is what the mechanic sees. I see it simply as one of the petty duels people choose to engage in, especially those involving interactions between men and women. His invisible male symbol, rather than a sign of strength, marks the mechanic as a person who may be a bit heartless, one not in touch with his feelings, and thus, weak and cowardly. Thank you, Anne Katherine.
I really liked the lines:
symbol of Venus indelibly etched
on a peninsula of delicate flesh.
Thank you, Blue Flute.
A brilliant interpretation of the prompt!
Anna
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Thank you, Anna.
Ha ha !! good one !
..You have portrayed both the genders so aptly!
Thank you, Hema.