a poem from
This is Not An Isolated Incident,
poems by M.H.Gilbena
Men Love The Seemingly Unattainable Girl
Over the summer, I was walking home alone
from dinner, and felt as if I was being followed
by a man I had seen earlier in the evening.
(Let him look at you! If he doesn’t notice you at first,
he's probably not interested. Keep walking –
someone will notice you.)
Finally, as the uncomfortable feeling got
stronger and the streetlights dimmer, I
crossed the street to try and get away.
(By not accepting the concept that the man must
must pursue the woman, women put themselves
in jeopardy of being rejected or ignored.)
As I turned around halfway across the street,
I saw that the man I felt had been following
me, was. He was also fully exposed and was
masturbating as he continued to follow me.
(End the date first.)
That’s when I ran.
These poems are from This Is Not An Isolated Incident, a collection of poems, composed by collage and with 'found' elements. Her collection, This is Not An Isolated Incident is forthcoming from Blue Streak, spring 2026