She is nestled up against him
waiting for the whispered words
of adoration, desire.
He sighs contently, and tells her
she is cuddly.
That sounds like a teddy bear she says.
He pulls her closer, nuzzling into her neck,
but a single tear rolls down her cheek.
Shawn L. Bird 
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
IF I WERE HER…I’M BE TEMPTED TO DUMP HIM! HE’S NOT SAYING WHAT SHE MOST DESIEES. IF SHE TRIES TELLING HIM, HE’LL MOST LIKELY LIE FOR THE SAKE OF KEEPING THE PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP GOING! 😦 MY OPINION, OF COURSE.
or perhaps she’s just being silly? He shows plenty of affection here, doesn’t he? Which is more important? Showing or telling?
You are right—men (I’ll admit) tend to see the physical first and then grow into other aspects. But he compares her with things. Does she want someone who sees her as an object only? Or sees her as a cherished PERSON by using words more intimate to her?
Where does he compare her with a thing?
He says she’s cuddly (what does that mean to him? Comfort? Safely? Warmth?)
She’s the one who goes to the teddy bear comparison.
YOUR POEM…! It does seem in my reading of it that he and she were talking of two different views of her worth to him. It did seem that the terms she was expecting had little to do, on the surface, with what she was really after…a more intimate appreciation in terms that she as a woman, wanted. Based on my also being a guy, I am also making assumptions about his preconceived notions and how they also are being expressed. That’s what I’m trying to say. In this sex-saturated world even Christian guys tend to think of women as objects for their own enjoyment.and approach–at least initially–in that attitude.
🙂
I am amused.
The reader creates his or her own meaning based on what s/he brings to the poem. It’s always interesting to watch that play out.
My personal sense of this couple is that he is loving and appreciating her tremendously and is showing that through his actions, but that she has ‘romance novel’ conceived notions about what he should be saying.
Note- the words of romance heroes are invariably put into their mouths by female authors, leading to an unreasonable expectation of the ability for the male to express his emotional depth. Just because he doesn’t use words, doesn’t mean the feeling isn’t there. I think too often women complain about men because of this, thinking the men aren’t ‘something’ when they’re just communicating differently. Mars vs Venus, etc! If women read male authored spy novels they’d have a more reasonable expectation of male capability in this matter. How male characters communicate with the female characters sums it up rather simply.
NOW I SEE what you’re getting at! AHA! 😀
That gil’d stuck…?
I think somebody needs some ice cream. 🙂 —CC
Or good dark chocolate? 😉
A stuffed animal is cuddly, but still cold. Better to just snuggle, and say how warm she feels.
He only says cuddly. Warm is likely inferred. 🙂