Cee Cee Poem by Mustafa Marconi

Cee Cee said she couldn’t take it
She had the last of what she considered
To be the worst situation in the world
She’s tired of being broke
Tired of washing dishes
Tired of doing the laundry
And tired of braiding his hair
She’s frustrated with the fact
That he’s never home
Frustrated he’s always tired
Frustrated with the way he relates to his mother
And worst of all frustrated with the way he performs in bed
She’s confided in a neighbor
How she no longer cares for him
How she refuses to cook for him
And barely even talks to him
She told her neighbor she was so unhappy
And couldn’t stand the thought of spending
Another day with him
And how she strives everyday to make his life
As miserable as she feels inside
She’s turned off by his presence
Disgusted by the mere mention of his name
Annoyed by the many that admire him or praise him
And ashamed at his position in society
Her neighbor stares at her in silence
Acting startled and confused
Never giving any indication
That she has been intimately privy
To all of this confidential information
For Cee Cee has bared her soul
To anyone and everyone who was willing to listen
Avoiding and alienating anyone who even vaguely disagreed
Constantly spewing her negativity
Until even the inaccuracies she's come to believe
With shame on her face the neighbor interjects
And uncomfortably seconds the motion
“Cee Cee, you need to leave
How dare he act so distant and callous?
How dare he neglect you pursuing his dreams”?
Deep inside her neighbor has long pondered the possibilities
There is a man who doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink
Doesn’t party’ and doesn’t hang out
A man who works endlessly at two dead end jobs
Just trying to take care of his family
A man who attends school part time
And still finds the time to be there for his children
A man who is a good father
A good neighbor, and a good son
A man who is humble, sincere
And generous to a fault
A man who doesn’t glitter
But is worth his weight in gold
A man who gives all he has to his wife
And never seems to give enough
A man who always has a smile on his face
And is always upbeat and positive
Here is everything she ever wanted
Being trampled and ridiculed
By this woman who doesn’t perform her wifely duties
And hasn’t held a job in fourteen years
A woman who doesn’t understand that she has been blessed
That always views the glass half-empty
A woman who cannot perceive
That he’s never home
Because bills must be paid
That he’s always tired
Because he works so hard
That he has no money
Because he’s saving for his children’s education
That he doesn’t talk to her
Because she never listens
That he no longer satisfies her
Because she doesn’t excite him
Nine months ago her neighbor vainly attempted
To seduce him while Cee Cee was away
Failing to induce even an ounce of attention
She resigned herself to a neighborly hug or an innocent kiss
Waiting for the moment to pounce on her opportunity
The prospect of catching herself a good man
To shower him with affection
Love, peace, and understanding
As Cee Cee leaves, her neighbor waves goodbye
Praying for the moment Cee Cee leaves forever
Preparing for the day that may never come
She hones her cooking skills
Reads up on politics and current events
Educates herself on various social issues
And even begins to appreciates various sporting events
She knows she cannot depend on her sexuality alone
To corral such a complex man
For the competition will be stiff
For Cee Cee and her friends are the only ones
Who cannot see what every other woman
On the block can see so clearly
There on that corner with his work boots on
Stand a true to life man
And all the little girls are laughing at him