The boy stood behind the podium
& said fuck
he giggled as it flew past his lips
an unruly bird
escaping into listening air
such an artist
to toss that word
casually
like a child jumping rope
skipping easily over raw power
Sitting in rows, almost like a classroom
his friends laugh to one another, he said f—
It must be a strong poem
strong words
by themselves
do not make strong poetry
He read that night
that word, as incomprehending as me
the first time I used that word
in a rhyming game with my sister
shouted down the hall after truck, duck, luck
I was 3
& my mother washed my mouth out with soap
10 years later
I figured out what word I said
now I know
how to use that word in context
how it should only be shouted
or whispered
as if praying to any god who will listen
murmured in rhythm with pleasure spreading
through nerve and bone/blood resonating
with orgasm
our bodies
collections of particles dissolving
Susan Daniels Poetry 
wow! the voice of the child – in all its innocence; the knowledge of the newly initiated adult! Two world views meet and contrast in this poem!
Thanks–glad you liked it!
only shouted or whispered. Very true. Loved this Susan. i cans till taste the soap in my mouth 🙂 gack!
murmured in rhythm… boy you really had it going on with every movement in this poem woman!
Wow, I “blush”, and say “gush”, this is beautifull…after another read….now I hear the voice of a woman situating a word in its different usages and meanings!
Susan is quite wonderful weaving her words with different images and meanings. LOVE HER
completely agree with you!
she is going to blush like a mad woman when she reads our gushing :0 )
Smiling at this image as well.. she is fantastic as you are too Noel
now, you have got me blushing and blood gushing in my head!
Oh my! Thanks you two!
I never knew the F-word can be so deeply rooted in our souls … you are brilliant …. you make poetry out of even the smallest things in life … I salute you 🙂