AND MEET A WOMAN…

Collection of poems

Jaroslav Bálek

Content

And meet a woman!

On the street

In the square

At the ball

At the post office

On a Nudist beach

At work

At the cemetery

The urology department

On the tram

On the way

With a dog

In the car

At the toilet bowl

On a bike

In the shower

By the sea

In the forest

In the apartment

In the Intensive Care Unit 1

In the pub

Late in the evening

In the park

In the Intensive Care Unit 2

In the buffet

On the Ship

In my dreams

On the phone

On the train

At the swimming pool

In the countryside

On the bus

At the fashion show

At the movies

With a piece of paper

AT CAMP

In the women's toilet

In the waiting room

In the gym

In the dressing room

Dating site

With accompanying person

CONCLUSION

And meet a woman!

You can meet a woman anywhere,

in city squares or country air.

On holiday, at work, in town,

you’ll find her smiling up or down.

That’s why I love to step outside,

to enjoy the beauty, feel alive.

At home I meet no one at all,

so out I go when daylight calls.

So come with me women to see,

hurry, run out—let’s chase our life.

Step through the door, make dreams come true,

hand in hand. I’ll walk with you.

On the street

I like walking through

the Prague ´s streets.

I gaze at the beautiful old houses

full of divine impressions.

I love watching them

those arcades

and cascades

and think about their history

filled with euphory.

Even a house in side-street small

can catch a foreign traveler’s eye;

its beauty spreads along the wall,

a shuttered frame against the sky.

The view of houses

multiplies

when women pass

along the square.

In Central Europe

choice supplies

a palette others

rarely wear see.

Some favor dark,

some favor light,

some red, some pale

—a varied art;

the north and south

may envy sight,

for here such colors

warm the heart.

Here slim and thick both appear,

a mix not common east or west;

on boulevards they move so near,

yet often pass without a jest.

They rarely seem to notice you,

as if you were a passing breeze;

but still you can attempt a view,

and practice words with gentle ease.

A friend of mine used

to walk around Wenceslas Square

and had five versions prepared,

if the first one didn't catch on

and possible aversion sensed

then another he tried

maybe it would be better.

But it can make a bad impression

to catch women on the street

like a fisherman fishing with a rod

especially when they show no interest.

A man may look like a beggar or even a fraud.

Sometimes it is necessary

to wait for the right opportunity,

to buy ice cream

or look at the shop window, which is easier.

And if it happens to rain

then it would be appropriate

to help with an umbrella.

Become a valet for a moment

and later perhaps a lover

and perhaps even a ruler.

When she awaits the tram’s slow glide,

stand by her side and make no fuss;

if she should smile while you abide,

you’re already halfway to the plus.

And maybe you'll get lucky

like a friend of mine.

He was so shy

or maybe he was afraid

he'd get punched.

He followed her down the street

as if she were some kind of slut.

Maybe she liked his shyness

or did it make her nervous

or wanted to get rid of him

and so she turned to him:

You've been following me

for an hour and you haven't spoken to me,

so what do you actually want?

To make me nervous

or perhaps on a date ask me?

But in the quieter streets

and narrow paths

and around large complexes

there are few of them.

There, they can't miss you

and therefore not notice you.

Sometimes they will even reward you

with a meaningful smile

or even a flutter.

Perhaps they want to flirt

it is impossible not to respond

or boycott it

but cooperate and get involved

and maybe even love in the future.

In the square

A square beats any street, no doubt,

more women there, just look about.

For men, it’s luck from every side,

too many beauties to decide.

Its fame is old, its charm well known,

each town once had a strolling zone.

Where girls would walk and men would stare,

and madness floated in the air.

You’d meet the local girls with flair,

and visitors from who knows where.

You’d time it right, just ten or so,

then see them once again in tow.

If still unsure, you’d take a seat,

compose your thoughts, prepare to meet.

And ponder how to make them smile,

with charm and wit and practiced style.

But which to choose? The choice is wide,

two tall ones there, with graceful stride.

Yet on the left, some shorter stand,

that one looks nice, and close at hand.

Small isn’t bad, just look at this:

Democritus, no fool to miss.

He wed a tiny, perfect dame,

no drama, just a steady flame.

That woman there—her mind seems light,

but dressed to dazzle, bold and bright.

Perhaps she knows, and tries to hide

the fact that brains aren’t on her side.

And here are two, with haughty air,

the right one’s hot, with juice to spare.

The left one’s teeth are quite a sight,

a smile that’s just a bit too tight.

Girls often come in matching pairs,

one draws the gaze, the other stares.

It’s best to wait till they divide,

then charm the pretty one with pride.

Or talk to both, but start with care,

be kind to her with lesser flair.

She might get cross and spoil the game,

while envy sets the spark aflame.

That lady rushing all alone,

she’s swift, already in the zone.

Perhaps a date, or limousine,

too fast for me to intervene.

I’ll wait instead for one who’s slow,

a nearsighted girl with time to go.

She walks with ease, no need to dash,

just heading out to buy some mash.

At the ball

The ball is grand, a poet’s dream,

with marble floors that softly gleam.

And somewhere near, behind the light,

perhaps stands Cupid, out of sight.

The dark and glow in sweet embrace,

a dance of shadows, light, and grace.

The spotlights sweep, the music swells,

revealing secrets no one tells.

You wander through the grand parade,

past pillars tall and balustrade.

A conquest waits behind each door,

a glance, a smile, and maybe more.

By bar or table, box or stair,

yet feel as if you’re not alone.

At the post office

On a Nudist beach

At work

At the cemetery

The urology department

On the tram

On the way

With a dog

In the car

At the toilet bowl

On a bike

In the shower

By the sea

In the forest

In the apartment

In the Intensive Care Unit 1

In the pub

Late in the evening

In the park

In the Intensive Care Unit 2

In the buffet

On the Ship

In my dreams

On the phone

On the train

At the swimming pool

In the countryside

On the bus

At the fashion show

At the movies

With a piece of paper

AT CAMP

In the women's toilet

In the waiting room

In the gym

In the dressing room

Dating site

With accompanying person

CONCLUSION