Bonsoir cher!
Sit down, and let me tell you
about a girl I once knew
she lived down the ol' bayou
know that what I'll say is true:
Pheromones seemed to waft off of her skin
drawing all the neighborhood boys in
one by one they'd get close
and of her they would each take a dose
only to vanish from her heart's vicinity
taking her purity, and leaving her empty
a cold shell of who she used to be
She had so changed
her priorities were all rearranged
and from me she became estranged
That alone was painful enough
without every smile now being a disguised bluff
every visit because she needs stuff
like a water hyacinth she'll drain me dry, sure enough
making the bayou between us impossible to luff
More painful than not seeing her
is seeing her, and being fed doses of poisoned sugar
more painful than seeing who she's become
is seeing her, doing the same thing to me
Those boys may have taught her
that the world is cruel and cold
though it was half-lies they've told
she was young and easy to mold
Now she goes around
passing out frowns
taking warmth from others
never giving it back
good qualities she had as a girl
she now deeply lacks
The thing is, we were once great friends
now we stand on opposite river bends
I don't know how this story ends
on her, it all depends
Oui, there was once a girl I knew
who lived down the ol' bayou
inside her coldness grew and grew
now knowing her only makes me blue
so stubborn is her water hyacinth hue
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
It's my turn to say WOW! WOW! What thorough character sketches of two women, because the narrator reveals so much about herself in HOW she tells the story of her friend (I think the bond is very strong and if the girl can overcome at least some of her coldness the narrator will revive their friendship - it's my belief and hope) . The language is stunning - colloquial, supple, naturally poetic like BEING FED DOSES OF POISONED SUGAR and NOW SHE GOES AROUND PASSING OUT FROWNS. I feel like I know these people, and their town, and even their motives. I think the girl is more sinned against than sinning. I want her to recover some of past grace. I care about her.