My green-eyed Madonna writhes and screeches in the mud with tobacco-chewing rednecks. This flawless spectacle inflames the caverns of my mind. Aroused, I kneel and beg her
for a taste of her newborn vices. She reaches out to me, but I’m a prowler, a fierce hunter and do not care for this debauched young woman. Apple scent fills the reeds. She promises me the remnants of her tattered modesty, then she leads me to a diner in the town’s backstreets. I ask for a plate of almond croissants with a skinny latte but she tells me in her inn, there is only food for real men and the bitterest of coffees. Green fever clouds her eyes. We take a bottle of rye bourbon and rush upstairs to her bed. We struggle until her final whimpers snap the thread and the hunt is over. Who was the hunter, and who was the prey? No one knows to this day but it is clear to me now, this young Madonna was not born to sing the Blues, and I was only an out-of-town drifter who was lost on his way to Memphis.
Part of the mosaics cycle of poems
A few words about the poem…
A Coming-of-Age Poem Explored Through an Odyssey of Passion and Self-Discovery
In a poetic exploration, the journey to self-discovery often meanders through landscapes both physical and metaphorical. Such is the essence of this coming-of-age poem under scrutiny, a narrative woven with the threads of a young man's odyssey, symbolized by the enigmatic destination of Memphis.
The protagonist, a figure possibly in his mid-twenties, traverses the contours of his own psyche, seeking revelations in the heart of the South. Memphis, a city steeped in historical and cultural significance, serves as the backdrop for the unfolding drama of self-discovery. This thematic choice beckons the reader to delve beyond the surface, to ponder the allegorical implications embedded in the poet's crafted verses.
The poem introduces a young woman, in her late teens, as a pivotal character in the protagonist's journey. Her presence, both ethereal and substantial, symbolizes a nexus of desires and fantasies. The nuanced portrayal, employing the subtlest strokes of language, hints at her unexplored sensuality and a mind given to fanciful musings.
As the narrative progresses, the poet unveils a tempestuous sexual liaison between the protagonist and this enigmatic young woman. The imagery of a green-eyed Madonna screeching and writhing in the mud, juxtaposed with tobacco-chewing rednecks, sets a vivid scene. The clash of elements—passion and detachment, desire and resistance—adds layers to the exploration of human connection.
The choice of a diner in the town's backstreets, the rejection of almond croissants and a skinny latte in favour of fare suitable for "real men" and the bitterest of coffees, introduces societal norms and preferences into the narrative. The clash of these elements, conveyed with an objective and informative tone, adds a dimension of social commentary to the poem.
Within the folds of this poetic tapestry, the scent of apples fills the reeds, an olfactory note that lingers, inviting interpretations that transcend the literal. The poet creates an atmosphere where every detail is a brushstroke on the canvas of the reader's imagination.
The culmination of the poem, marked by a struggle that ends with the Madonna's final whimpers, suggests a denouement to the passionate encounter. Yet, the mystery persists—the hunter and the prey, the drifter and the Madonna, entwined in a dance that defies clear delineation. It is a narrative choice that echoes the complexities of human relationships, leaving the reader with questions that resonate beyond the confines of the verses.
The poem guides the reader through the labyrinth of themes—self-discovery, passion, societal norms—while leaving room for interpretation. The journey to Memphis, both literal and metaphorical, is an exploration that invites contemplation, a poetic odyssey that captivates without revealing all its secrets.