By Gala
Date: 15 September 2000
She Has Such a Pretty Face
Oh how I cringed to hear those words
at fifteen
twenty
twenty five--
because the next word was always "BUT".
That was the qualifier,
picking out a body part
meant there was something
wrong with the rest.
And the girls knew
they could possess a sweet spirit
a heart of pure gold,
intellect out the yin yang---
and the guy they dreamed about
would still be dreaming
about little miss cupcake,
front row
with the big hair
and perky hooters.
Forget that she didn't grasp
words more complex than mascara
Who cared that her concept of conversation
was a shopping dialogue.
She knew that if she twitched her butt
a certain way,
they'd come running.
And she had her pick,
and sometimes you comforted
her cast offs
with your mind
your heart,
or when you were feeling really stupid
your body
and even if it seemed
that you were at least loving friends
she knew she could haul him away
with one call
and that was just the facts.
You learned fast
it wasn't just looks---
but THE LOOK
that guys wanted.
Sweet kind and gentle
was rewarded with
I-can-tell-you-anything
but-you-know-I-don't-think-
of-you-like-that.
Or my personal favorite
I wish I could meet
a girl like you.
Janis Ian had the right of it,
and at seventeen
you taught yourself
to love the silent
too long
lonely nights
when the guy you loved
chased a stupid bimbo
like a crazed hound
and convinced yourself
that it was all
somehow something you picked
rather than the hobsons's choice
of the desperate heart.
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