Belen sent me this very bizarre vintage postcard. Lovely image, but whoa, man, that poem! She commented on its strangeness, too. I wonder if these sentiments were common??
The poem reads
Mother cooking, no one looking,
Kiss her like a real man should.
Footsteps running, papa's coming,
Beat it while your shoes are good.
Ewww, creepfest!!
I feel like this should be some kind of PostSecret postcard.
What the?!
ReplyDeleteThis image reminds me of Man Ray's Marquise Casati. The poem could be interpreted so many ways. I'd love to learn more about it.
ReplyDeleteWeird!
ReplyDeleteAnd her lipstick does appear to be smeared. It really is pretty creepy.
ReplyDeleteLucky! Nice card.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it might have once been a colonial-era folk song. Put "the" before mama and papa and it sounds tame.
Probably just Back Door Santa makin his runs about the break of day.
If you don't assume "she" = "mother" it works.
ReplyDeleteI think the poem is innocent ... I think the poem is written about the woman pictured and it is her mother that is cooking and her father that is checking up on his daughter. The man doing the running is probably an unsuitable suitor who is tired of courting rituals that don't allow for real kisses.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful postcard.
Jonathan, PostMuse and Succubus, I appreciate your more innocent perspectives.
ReplyDeleteIn the principles of writing, with Mother stated as subject, I think the assumption that "she" is mother follows, but adding "the" could solve that problem. Hmmm.
Huh. I think PostMuse has it.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find creepy is the thinness of the woman's neck. There's no room for a spine, trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins, and muscles to hold her head up!
ReplyDeleteAnd she would need muscles to hold up that head of hair!
ReplyDeleteThis card is a great find! Very kooky. I'm going to go with Post Muse on the poem. Nice observation by Christine H on the smeared lipstick, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm really, really interested in these "Beat it while..." postcards I keep seeing. I found one last month in Madison, Wisconsin that says "Beat it while the going is good."
ReplyDeleteYou can see it here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaami/5106805780/
Does anyone know what it's supposed to mean? The date written on the back is 1908. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this phrase!