she tried to ignore the inky murmurs
of the subdued women
gossiping about her purple dress
she heard gaudy and tacky
as their talk undulated
from unkind to cruel to mean
she watched as one of them happily
burrowed into her red leather purse
and pulled out her cell phone
she called someone and began
to spin her web of callous words
via cellular towers and satellites
though it saddened her
she sat unafraid
they were just words, after all
and she knew in her heart
that she glowed in her purple dress
because it made her feel light
she did pity the other women however
because they were so common
and their hearts were the abyss
/ / /
This poem was written in response to Wordle 7 at a wordling whirl of Sundays.
Richard, a sad situation all around. Well described!
ReplyDeleteAwesome poem ... sometimes you just know when something works ... and all those other dames are just jealous!
ReplyDeleteI really like "inky murmurs" and your use of "burrowed". I can picture the lovely young woman floating above the petty criticisms, shining in her pretty purple dress.
ReplyDeleteMary, thank you. Yes, I went the sad route with this one, when so many others wrote something positive.
ReplyDeleteMarianne, thank you. "Jealousy" works very well. I imagined her as an artistic type - and the others as just critics.
Francis, thank you. I'm glad you could see her so well "above the petty criticisms".
Richard
I really enjoyed this and was especially struck by the description..."she called someone and began
ReplyDeleteto spin her web of callous words
via cellular towers and satellites"
Very nicely done.
Susannah, thank you. As a teacher, I'm aware of cyberbullying and how young people can use texting and cell phones in harmful ways.
ReplyDeleteRichard
You and I both went to the shadow side of this one. You describe this dynamic between women well. Oh, and I love the name of your blog!
ReplyDeleteMary, thank you. There's a story behind the name of my blog; it's the title of a poem a former student wrote. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteRichard
This reminded me of the poem "When I Am Old, I Shall Wear Purple." I say, why wait until you're old. Don't worry about what others think; do what makes you feel good.
ReplyDeleteLolamouse, I agree with you. Somewhere in drafting this one, that poem did come to mind to me as well, though I didn't imagine the woman in my poem as "old".
ReplyDeleteRichard
This is wonderful! You brought this poem to life. I admire the spirit and confidence you bestowed upon the girl in the purple dress.
ReplyDeleteChristy
Christy, thank you. I thought she had a lot of spirit too.
ReplyDeleteRichard