Little Brown Women

[ellajam]

My impression wasn't sexist or racist. The phrase "little brown women" makes me think of the South American or Mexican Indian women, they have a distinctive short and solid build, I don't need to see their complexions to take a guess at heritage, even walking far behind them they have a presense I too find distinct and beautiful.

I've been thinking about how you might avoid giving readers the impression some seem to have had. First there is the possibility that "brown" is too broad, maybe a sumptuous yet still simple shade of brown might work better. Second, L2 is doing the poem a disservice in its prominent spot because it can be taken as "they turn me on" more than admiration, which for me is how the poem reads, with the turned on part underneath.

The whole hand over mouth, which I love, leads me to women foreign born because most women I know who were raised in the US laugh loudly and open mouthed, and the younger ones all have the selfies posted to prove it. For me the poem showed respect for these women that hold to their own upbringing.

The swaying of the hips, amen, everyone should sway so. It is just a fact in my world that most Hispanic women I know dance better than the rest of us, even the toddlers and seniors move their bodies better than us white girls. I think they're just raised right.

I find the contradiction between V1 and V2 is lovely and rings true, a natural but not flaunting sensuality. V3 shows a group not corseted by puritan heritage.

I found the refrain of "everyone" kept this poem far from sexism, it does not say every woman should be like this, it says we all should have these qualities that the N admires.

Hope this helps.

Little Brown Women  

Little brown women, little brown women,
I love little brown women;
the way they cover their mouth
when they laugh in the morning
as though laughing were a sin.
Everyone should sin so.

I love little brown women
in the market at noon
hips swaying to the rhythm
of the breeze in their hair
courting the lusty sun.
Everyone should sway so.

I love little brown women,
sitting in the shade, in the evening,
with their small hungry babes
who fiercely suck and paw their breast.
Everyone should sit so.

I love little brown women,
at night, when the sky is dark
and the torch lights come out;
eyes shining from reflected light.
Everyone should shine so.