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three minutes for three dollars

Janet Kuypers
03/02/10

when the economy is down
and women are expected
to get ahead on their own

the men go off to war
and women are suddenly alone
trying to make ends meet

in Honolulu, durig World War II
the women saw fleets of men
sailing in and out of their ports

the police would condone it
it’s good for the military’s morale
so

prostitution became legal
and suddently all the women
were finally needed for something

but when the ladies of Hotel Street
saw literally hundreds of men
standing in line around the block

well, they had to come up with a system
this was a business, you see
put your morality on the line

offer three minutes for three dollars

this is a business, you see
call it a bull ring or a bull pen
but have three rooms in a circle

one for the men to undress and wait in
one for the three monutes
and one to get dressed in before leaving

over a hundred a day is no problem
when you check your morals at the door
but you have to keep up the pace:

you only have time off for menstration
and they’ll ship you back to the mainland
if you don’t follow the police rules

don’t live outside the brothel
don’t shop in the well-known stores
or frequent well-to-do restaurants

don’t date anyone, don’t buy property
and don’t mind the disrespect,
don’t mind the vulgarity or abuse

and don’t mind the broken heart
or broken body
because even though this is a busy time

for women these days,
someone will come along to take your place
if you ever even think of complaining


Copyright © 2010 Janet Kuypers.

All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.

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