September 27, 2023

Reworking “The Venus Hottentot” by Elizabeth Alexander

1. 

One, two, three

So beautiful and sexy

One, two, three

I’m in love.

I feel so good watching their

skin recoil over and over

One, two, three

“I’m tired,” they said

“Don’t worry, 

I’m almost done.”

God, I am such a good partner

2. 

I squeeze my eyes closed,

wondering where I went wrong.

How could I say no when he 

wanted so badly for me to say yes?

He calls me his world

He says I’m everything

but he makes me feel like nothing.

When did I become emptied out

and discarded? Is this love:

Asking until I say yes and

going until he is done. 

But he’s the nice guy. 

He’s the one my parents like

and the one my friends

approve and the one

everyone is friendly with, 

but they don’t know.

I was so excited to meet new

people. I thought this would

be better than home. I am the

strong-willed one in my family! 

Yet I am stuck under this man who

forced me to love him, who told me

“I am yours” without asking if

I even wanted him.

He cares for me but destroys 

me doing so. He protects me

but then doesn’t let me go.

I will leave when I have a 

plan to and I will finally tell

everyone who he actually

is.