Bluestocking Lady

Moral, Intellectual & Cultural

 

   Every head turned as she made her promenade down the corridor. Her well instructed way was no secret to mankind . Calculating her every move, she enraptured her audience.

Oh, her reputation, acute in nature, far preceded her.

 

   Her accolades were not a few,

        her resources many...

 

      She had what men sought after,

          She is....Bluestocking lady

 

Author's Note

For those of you who are not familiar with the term, bluestocking Lady:

Bluestockings, a pejorative name for an informal woman's literary "club" that flourished in the second half of eighteenth century London, was named after Benjamin Stillingfleet's blue worsted stockings: he was too poor to afford the customary black silk stocking suitable for evening wear. Run by educated, intellectual, conservative women who tried to raise the moral, intellectual, and cultural standards of their time, this group of friends took turns hosting evening's entertainment where the literary figures of London took the spotlight. Women were often the majority of the guests, and the subject of the evening was often a learned women from the past or the present. Eventually similar ladies' groups who patterned themselves after the Bluestockings sprung up all over London then all over England.

I'll most likely add to this piece, but I penned it in an attempt to break writers' block that's smothering me, so you can consider it a first draft...

Reviews

[Antonio Valentino]

The mind being the biggest sex organ, and so it is no wonder that I have always been extremely attracted to the woman with at least half a brain (I only have about a quarter, so it still works out pretty good for me). Sure, physical attraction is important, but ultimately you are going to fall in love with the person's personality i.e., their heart, mind, and soul. Give me the studious one with the funny glasses that I can laugh at life with, and always be interested in talking to, and I'm golden. External beauty is really nice, and a plus, but in the end, it's the person who really cares about you, and, "gets you" that is going to win you over, time and again. Well at least for me anyway.

Sorry 'bout the novel lol.
Loved your poem!
Thanks for reminding me a very important part of what matters.

Antonio

[Mercury Mirrors]

O.O WOW I always love your eloquent words. They're never wasted or out of place. As always, wonderful job.

Lizz

[Jacquelene Vanessa More..]

the last line is like hell yea for me!!!

This is very good. I liked that it wasn't long. You got right to the point. The last few lines are very powerful! Great poem!

[Kelly Scheppers]

With a sparsity of words, you fill the page with awe...and a lesson to be learned, as well!

You are a commanding force, and I applaud the orchestration of your hand.

My best,
Kelly

[R J Askew]

Liked this. Can think of one or two bluestockings myself. It's the intelligence and reservation that often goes with it that can be infuriatingly attractive.

[just_me]

How often do you hear 'promenade' used so.

We are...Enraptured

[julian3]

"Calculating every move" - this turn of phrase, reclining quietly amidst the other lush verses, also causes the reader to wonder - how much of the image presented is superficial and intentionally deceptive - and what lies in the depths beneath that surface? A well-done work which causes the reader to think, rather than just read and pass on.

[Flow]

"She had what men sought after

mind ~ body ~ soul"

You are so right about this.. and it being about womens literary club makes the all more sexy to me. Also for it to be called blue stocking now how sexy is that? Lovely poem and one I will keep as it really shows the mental ability of women. excellent!

[Sam Freeland]

pejoratives are often mild though the hurt they cause may never be known. the need or habit
in their use by so called sophisticates in their ingroup behavior is well known as is damning
with faint praise. As I read your stirring poem I detected a deep understanding of people
using very few words...an excellent beginning of which I will be looking forward to read.