Bawdy Women

I come from a long line of bawdy women. I love that many modern women have taken Chaucer's notion of a bawdy woman somewhat to heart and turned it a bit on it's ear. To me bawdy today isn't crassness, rather it's an earthy, spicy luscious way of living. It's being the ripe peach that's ready to be bitten into, it's a full bodied wine with many layers of complexity.

My maternal grandmother was one of my teachers in this. I remember when I was reading Chaucer in my freshman year of high school, I was a bit confused and asked her about bawdy women, did it mean they were never "ladies". She laughed and told me "a bawdy woman knows how to be a lady when it's warranted, but rarely does a lady know how to be a bawdy woman." I was puzzled and didn't really understand what she was telling me. She told me I would understand eventually. Unfortunately I lost her that same year and never was able to tell her that I really understand now that I've been living life.

The blues celebrates bawdy women and Ida Cox was one of the best....Her "One Hour Mama" is a blues classic. What woman couldn't identify with some of these lyrics:

..... I've always heard that haste makes waste
So I believe in takin' my time
The highest mountain can't be raced
It's something you must slowly climb
I want a slow and easy man
He needn't ever take the lead
Cause I work on that long-time plan
And I ain't a-lookin' for no speed

I'm a one hour mama
So no one minute papa
Ain't the kind of man for me
Set your alarm clock papa
One hour, that's proper
Then love me like I like to be

I don't want no lame excuses
'Bout my lovin' bein' so good
That you couldn't wait no longer
Now I hope I'm understood

I'm a one hour mama
So no one minute papa
Ain't the kind of man for me

I can't stand no greenhorn lover
Like a rookie goin' to war
With a load of big artillery
But don't know what it's for

He's got to bring me a reference
With a great long pedigree
And must prove he's got endurance
Or he don't mean that to me

I don't like no crowin' rooster
What just kicks a lick or two
Action is the only booster
Of just what my man can do

I don't want no imitation
My requirements ain't no joke
Cause I've got pure indignation
For a guy what's lost his stroke

I'm a one hour mama
So no one minute papa
Ain't the kind of man for me
Set your alarm clock papa
One hour, that's proper
Then love me like I like to be

I may want love for one hour
Then decide to make it two
Takes an hour before I get started
Maybe three 'fore I'm through....

So here's to all the bawdy women out there, may it be a great weekend...