Thursday, November 03, 2005

Georgia Plum: My First Attempt At Poetry

When I first arrived in Savannah, the Black women there referred to themselves as Georgia Peaches. Well, in Savannah many of the women are too dark to be peaches so I called them plums. I found them beautiful! They are smooth and soft to the touch. Plus, the darker they are... the sweeter they are.

This poem was written in my English journal in college. I had to share it with the class and my professor thought the poem was erotic because I compared the Black women of Georgia with a Plum. Oooooh! Freaky! :)

Georgia Plum
(English 107 class/1990)

Dark and Sweet
Yeah, that's how I like 'em
Pure-T ecstasy the minute I sight 'em
Lord...thank you for them Georgia Plums
Georgia Peaches are alright
But the Plums are outa sight!
Plump and juicy with a burst of flavor
She's a taste in my mouth that I'll always savor
Lord...thank you for them Georgia Plums
From the top of Stone Mountain
Through midville and Savannah town
I will praise this Black woman
And I will never put her down
My Georgia Plum


22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oooweeeee!!! U sure know how to make a woman feel special Stephen :) I feel like this is meant for me. For I am darker than three nights combined...ain't I a woman???

Great poetry

Stephen A. Bess said...

Haa haa! Yes, you are the perfect candidate for a plum if you're what you describe. That would be enough to make a man go plum crazy! :)

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmmmmm!

I'm a plum indeed...
But I ain't from Georgia

but you know what...?
I'm applying to Emory Law which is in Georgia

So I'll be a New York Plum in Georgia...
*wink*

That was a really nice poem Stephen.

Unconquerable Soul said...

I want a Georgia PLUM! LOL

Nice Poem!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Jenellybean-
First, I would like to say that I love to see a sista doing her thing they way that you are! That's fantastic! There are great things for you in the future. Also, after looking at your photos you are definitely a NY Plum. Thanks for stopping by.

Unconqerable Soul-
If you get a GA Plum its going to be difficult to put her down. They are extremely talented. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you Stephen :) My Fiance` is hooked!! I mean the man is "Plum Crazy" :)

You are a great Writer...it's always refreshing to stop by yours!!!

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

Thanks for your praises, I appreciate them.

I will be back, I added you to my sidebar.

Michele said...

Now you KNOW this one was sure to get some responses!:) This was some good...and your post beforehand made me chuckle (from what your prof said). I'm not a peach, but I'm not a plum, either, but I've long admired the beauty of my darker sisters. A sweet, sweet tribute, Stephen.

Peace,
Bay

Stephen A. Bess said...

Jenellybean-
Thank you for putting me down with your sidebar. I'm humbled.

Softspoken-
I am glad that you liked my first efforts to express myself. I think that women of color are a blessing (particularly, in the Black community) because there are so many different shades of beauty.

Baysuite-
I'm glad that you dig this. The Song Solomon was my first introduction to poetry: "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." That's beautiful!

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

Ofcourse I had to put you in my sidebar...
I plan to be part of the family
Gotta have your cousins contact number...

Stephen A. Bess said...

Haa haa! That's cool. :)

Sumeeta said...

Stephen, I loved the poem! Of course, you know that you were writing about me!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Haa haa!! Hello Sumeeta. Yes, you can be a plum too....with a splash of Masala. :)

Waddie G. said...

the poem is fire...I didn't know short poem can say a whole lot...you're a great poet anyways...I remember some of your earlier work...I didn't know about the plums, and you sold me on the term.

Unknown said...

When I was in the Army in the last 70s I was stationed at HAAF Hunter Army Air Field, while there I met the love of my life.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Professorgq-
I appreciate your kind words. I love writing poetry. I keep many of the poems I write short. I don't think that I need a long narrative poem to get my point across. Thank you.

David-
I am very familiar with Hunter. So, we have probably kicked some dust in a few of the same places. I didn't meet the love of my life in Savannah, but there was a lot of love offered. I received most of it with opened arms.

MZPEACH said...

Baby, you know I love the Stone Mountain shout out. Although I am not considered to be a plum. Two of my four sisters are. So you know I'm loving this poem. But really, Georgia peaches are a little more than just alright. Were the bomb. Why can't the lighter sisters ever get any of the love? Why is it that poets and others have to downplay the lighter sisters, while uplifting the darker complected sisters? Aren't we all equally sweet?

Bougie Black Boy said...

look at you stealing Sumeeta! Of course you were woo-ing her with this poem!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Haa haa!! :)
Peach, in all fairness...my nose was toe wide open when I wrote this poem by one of those deep, dark, chocolate Savannah women. I was thinking of her when I wrote "Georgia Plum." I think that I've dated every shade of Black and I must say that they are all equally as sweet. Butterscotch is just as sweet as chocolate.

P.S. This post is getting sort of 9 1/2 Weeks with all these references to plums, chocolates and candy. :) I'm going to lunch

Stephen A. Bess said...

Haaa ha! Hello Stephen E & J. Me???? Wooing??? I would never try to steal your Indian Princess...never. :) She is nice, brainy, and creative. Hmmm...maybe I am trying to steal her. No, I think that the women in/from India are among the most beautiful women in the world. I can see why you would think that I was prowling. Ooops...I think that I was just wooing again. :)

MZPEACH said...

Much better. Much better!

Babz Rawls Ivy said...

I am not from Georgia, but I feel like this poem speaks to me, the northern Yankee woman (who certainly is akin to the PLUM)

20 years...you were waxing poetic even then. Way COOL!

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