‘Er … no … I really haven’t become obsessed with old roués or old dogs! I had a writers’ circle tonight and guess what the topic was? Yep, you guessed! And a good time was had by all 🙂
This poem will be my offering at OpenLinkNight at the dVerse pub with Natasha Head tonight too ~ get along there and see what the poets are supping …
The Old Dog
The old roué has a penchant for young girls,
He is a menace, yet seems not to know.
Disgust and reluctance to offend cloaks
The girls’ fears, cloaks the animosity,
Covers fake laughter after he has gone.
Eyes averted, gaze elsewhere, don’t look don’t
Look at him, he could return, just don’t look.
Whilst he is there, oh, whilst he’s there, the girls
Are scared. He’s so old with hair in his nose
And ears. He leers, lecherously lurching
Toward them in drink, has to touch, to feel,
Brush their breasts, pat their pert posteriors,
Smile smarmily, disarmingly [not … not].
He thinks he has appeal, he should get real,
He has none for them, his wife must tell him.
Ah! No wife. We won’t wonder why. It’s clear
Those who leer we call ‘Old Dogs’ with fondness,
No! They’re a scourge and the plague of young girls.
Polly Robinson © 2012
21/08/2012 at 12:33
It can be curious how old men often get away with so much. As if age is an excuse.
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 12:43
It’s probably not limited to just old men either Joe … I said ‘girls’ in the poem though it could be true for girls or boys I guess ~ it’s true, it is curious … curious is a good word …
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 15:32
Oh, this was a good one. Not only did it conjure the senses and make me feel like I was among those girls (albeit a much older version 😉 ), it is something to which I think most woman can relate, at least one time or another.
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 16:07
For sure … would that it were not the case, ‘eh Carrie?
Thanks for coming to see me 🙂
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 18:19
ugh..age is no excuse for sure…very well written polly
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 18:23
Totally agree Claudia ~ the whole thing ie Old Dog / Lolita is so yeuk …
Thanks for your thoughts.
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 22:51
Ha! Known a few! Very charming (not them) and well-written. k.
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:05
Ghastly, yes? We were talking about it at writers’ circle, some of the chaps (they’re all lovely) thought I was having a pop at men! None of them are old dogs / roués, are they?
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:13
ugh…you bring him to life in all his gross reality…he makes me feel dirty….i feel for those girls…and am disgusted by him…
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:16
yes, it is horrible when we think about it in these terms… you mustn’t feel bad Brian, you’re no more an old roué than the guys in my writing class … but sadly, most of the women you know could tell you a story about this type of male (I won’t glamourise him with the word ‘man’).
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:17
Hmmm have certainly seen this sort of thing and experienced this myself at times (an old boss I had when I was a teenager ewwww) Thanks for this, you handled a tricky topic well Polly.
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:22
You wouldn’t be surprised at the tales I’ve been told since I started researching this one Vanessa, it’s a shame but it’s no more rare than the term ‘old roué’ ~ which I had to explain to one lovely old chap tonight …
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:41
This is so true too. So many men seem to think an ‘innocent’ brush of breasts is acceptable. That their attentions are wanted when in fact the opposite is usually true. You got this one right, in one Polly and yes, age is no excuse for being a dirty old man. ! LO
LikeLike
21/08/2012 at 23:48
Looks like everyone agrees on this one … I can remember, as a young married woman, back in the 70s, being terrorised by a man of around 35 [guess], unmarried, but a slimeball … mentioning it to my [then] husband who thought I was inventing it … such were the times … I guess we never fully get over that sort of experience … not something I think about but clearly something that informs my work …
Many thanks for your comments Bren.
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 00:03
Oh, this is creepy. The guy creeps me out. I know there are people like that out there…you have brought the type to life!
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 00:05
So many seem to identify the type Mary … very creepy ~ thank you for your thoughts
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 03:53
I think you have captured a universal truth..not only are there old dogs, but creepy men of any age can have that effect. It seems as though saying no, walking away, being distant just presents them with a dare. I had a man follow me the length of the Blvd. Montmartre and up the stairs (the many stairs) of LeSacreCoeur before a man feeding pidgeons ran him away from me, but in any language he was horrible and he was probably in his late 30s but he wouldn’t leave me alone. I suppose it’s always been that way and probably worse in earlier times! Very well captured here, Polly!
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 06:22
That looks a nasty experience Gay, so many people with their own stories identifying this scenario.
One of the oddities of the phenomena is that such men often don’t realise their attentions are unwelcome.
Thanks for your comments.
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 04:34
Oh, you describe this particular species of letch wonderfully. I’ve known men like this and… well, to say your words made me cringe in recognition would be an understatement. It’s amazing how much some people can get away with, simply because of who they are.
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 06:26
Yes, your comment ‘simply because of who they are’ chimes with other posts. Bizarre that such men think their attentions are welcome …
Thank you for your thoughts and for visiting.
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 06:38
who some see as a hero, others see as a scourge. nice point you make!!
fruit essence facial mask
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 06:41
Yes, it all depends …
Thank you for visiting zongrik.
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 14:27
This is real and I felt the revulsion 😦
LikeLike
22/08/2012 at 14:29
Thank you tigerbrite, sadly, all too real.
LikeLike
23/08/2012 at 11:38
Encountered many and old rogue of this nature – not so fond memories of denture-dodging and spittle-wiping my cheek with attempted subtlety… Errr.
LikeLike
23/08/2012 at 11:42
That is what, in our house, we refer to as an ‘Oh yeuk moment’ ~ heh-heh 😀
LikeLike
23/08/2012 at 13:56
Hi Polly, I am constantly enjoying your work and look forward to each new post. Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve nom’d you for the Seven Things About Me award – http://dmosmusings.com/2012/08/22/seven-things-about-me/
LikeLike
23/08/2012 at 18:48
Danny, how lovely! So kind of you to say so 🙂 I am delighted … my response at https://journalread.wordpress.com/awards/ii/more-lovely-awards/
LikeLike
25/08/2012 at 05:23
This piece made me gag inside!! You wrote it brilliantly to evoke that response!! Excellent, Excellent!!!
LikeLike
25/08/2012 at 06:20
Hah! Good! In the nicest possible way 🙂 Thanks for your thoughts and comments 🙂
LikeLike
25/08/2012 at 11:18
Ooh dark and obsequious – made me shudder
….not that I’m at risk much any more – unless support stockings and vests do it for them!!
LikeLike
25/08/2012 at 12:06
One never forgets though … *shudder* indeed.
LikeLike
28/08/2012 at 03:24
Cryptic description of the dirty old man…
LikeLike
28/08/2012 at 05:22
Ghastly old man in my view Lindy.
LikeLike