Deconstructing Gender

[Dark Muse]

This is a bit of an exprimental peice, it is a little different.

Deconstructing Gender

Woman-
hood: concealing, secretive, the veil,
smiles without answers
and eyes that penetrate the soul
while not revealing its depths
but in gradual stages, her treasures
tucked away beneath cloaking folds,
the key to sacred virginity;

Maiden-
hood: tantalizing mystery, awaiting, a flower to bloom
and reveal the bud within, but there still lingers
those whispered secrets, baffling nuances,
laughter that is both happy and sad
while splayed among bed sheets.

S/he-
kindred the same
separate souls, separate bodies
perhaps co-residing, seeking understanding
driven by creation, primal instinct
only for the union/reuniting
of two to become singular,
as if to return back to the original state;

Wo/man:
of the same
splintered apart
desirous to return to both parts.

Man-
hood: its own sacred right,
a cloaking of different devices,
ambiguous ingenuity, a ponderous mind,
watching from beneath the hardened mask
with frowns where smiles are meant,
hardness where softness may wish,
molded rationality overshadows
sparks of spontaneity.

[MorpheusSandman]

I actually quite love this and think the experimentation works for the most part. But why is it so unbalanced? Should there be a Boy-hood to compliment the Maiden-hood? I'm also not sure I get the difference between S/he and Wo/man.

[Dark Muse]

Part of the reason it is unbalanced in that way is because the term maidenhood is meant to be a euphemism for virginity, quite literarily it refers to the hymen, so there really isn't anything for men that directly relates.

And for the sh/e and wo/man there intentionally isn't meant to be a different, as a way of challenging ideas, roles and concepts, and suggest the idea that they are one in the same or that one could merge or transfer into the other.

In the Woman-hood vs man-hood, they are pulled apart into separate identities, but in the middle they are merged together undistinguished from each other.

[Virgil]

I like this very much D-M. I think the experiment works out! Good show.

As a side note, I've tried to deconstruct women all my life and have gotten no where. :p

[Dark Muse]

Thank you!

[MorpheusSandman]

I've tried to deconstruct women all my life and have gotten no where. :pAs long as you haven't gotten no-thing.[/bad Shakespearean euphemism/pun]

[The Comedian]

Hey Dark Muse -- I really like this poem a lot. I think you do good things with experimental poetry. If I remember correctly, I greatly enjoyed some of your other work where you tinkered with form/meaning combinations.

[Dark Muse]

Thank you! Yes I beleive you commented on my blog on some of my experimental work.

[Virgil]

As long as you haven't gotten no-thing.[/bad Shakespearean euphemism/pun]

:lol: You get a little every once in a while. :p