You Knew Her Once

Really, I've got nothing but here it is anyway.

She wore this place well,
her vanity draped strategically
across one soft-milky shoulder.

The stiletto heels of her Louboutins
sharp enough to pierce confidence
and hearts with equal aplomb.

Should you catch her eye
make yourself small
or she'll make you smaller

than you thought possible,
the tinier she could make you
the greater the fun she'd have.

You've seen her you know,
heard her lyrical laugh floating
effortlessly drawing rapt male attention

and female daggers too weak
to even nick her wicked aura
of self proclaimed conceit

that she worshiped each day
before a gilt mirror leaving
lipstick marks after each visit.

Saucy, shrewd and stylish
her belief in herself was
simply a pandemic of illusion,

that would fade over time
and she would be forgotten
except in her old films

that she would watch
over and over in the dark
through the lens of a bottle

crushed by the weight of an ego
too large for such a slip of a girl.
She was beauty's greatest gaffe.

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Sadly, so many women have lived this life on the screen of everyday life. I'm reminded of a woman, now passed away, and our brief conversation with one another many years ago.

She didn't look as if she felt well so I asked her "Are you okay?"

"No," she responded.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I'm getting old," she said.

"We're all getting old," I responded.

"No, I mean, I'm getting really old."

She was a blonde-haired, blue eyed beauty, always a housewife, a sun-worshipper, and her whole life revolved around her looks. With the passage of time, gray hair, wrinkled sin, and age, her looks were fading. Unfortunately, she came from a time when few women worked outside of the home; and her looks literally were everything. Without her youth and her beauty, she literally felt as if she had no value in this world. This is what society continues to do to women today.

It's a shame really.

Yes. I knew her once. One day, I'll be saying the same about my younger self.

Nice job.

[icelandicblue]

That is such a sad story but not an uncommon one in a culture where beauty is everything until it isn't. Thanks so much for sharing that story, sometimes I think aging has become akin to a crime these days.

[CoraZanini]

this is honestly great..favourite line: "her belief in herself was
simply a pandemic of illusion"

it's sad how I and I think a lot more women can relate.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks for your comment...it is sad.

[Diana]

Not what I expected, not that I mind(ed). Vanity will always be undone by the hands of time. Such a sad way to frame a vision of "self," based on looks alone. An excellent piece.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Diana, I appreciate it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I like what Linda Marie said about the screen of life...

beauty fades eventually, the attention fades, and then we are left with only ourselves...we need to look more closely to see what we are leaving ourselves...and how we will live with that.

[icelandicblue]

We live an inner life in an outer world...we need to keep that in mind, especially beautiful women who age, it is not an easy thing to do but if one is made of stronger mettle any faded rose can face the storm with dignity.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

nicely put, Anne...

[Joyce S. Greene]

A wonderful character study on top of being an insightful commentary on our culture's worship of physical beauty. I've felt these lines too many times in my life - the "belle" of the ball (or office, as the case may be) making herself feel bigger by making others feel small:

Should you catch her eye
make yourself small
or she'll make you smaller

than you thought possible,
the tinier she could make you
the greater the fun she'd have.

Terrific poetry!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Joyce, beauty and kindness do not always go hand in hand...it reminds me of Shallow Hal and how he could see the true person beyond the skin.

[Frieda P]

Very sassy and full of moxy, like you my friend! Ego can make us or break us.......delightful read, something different from your pen.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks doll. ; )

[Frieda P]

OH how I love when you call me doll. ;-)

[Carolann Dowsett]

Physical beauty passes away but inner beauty is eternal. Arrogance and pride is often the downfall of many. It's only in humility that we find our true worth. I love this it resounds with such sad truth. A reflection of today's society perhaps.

[icelandicblue]

Your words speak of truth and true humanity.

[Carolann Dowsett]

Thank you that's nice of you to say

[♔ CrownedDevil &#..]

This piece was sad but very beautifully written. Nice job. :)

[icelandicblue]

Thank you very much.

[♔ CrownedDevil ☾]

Your very welcome. :)

[PoetryPenPal]

Thiss was beautiful. I think we all have known people who think themselves better, and I agreed with every word you said in this wonderful poem. Thank you for posting this wonderful poem.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you for reading.

[PoetryPenPal]

It was my pleasure

[Moebia]

I love the third stanza... Something about it seems rather menacing/sinister, although I'm not sure if that was what you were going for. All in all, all the words flow into place very nicely, and there is definitely a sad truth to this poem that not many give notice to. Aging can be graceful and beautiful, but for women like her, I wouldn't say so much. Great read. This was very nice.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much, the third stanza just warns you that she'll play with you like a mouse until she is done. Beauty outside is no guarantee of beauty within.

[Marie]

I've known too many like this. They live in the present, try too hard to catch it when it goes...and their future cupboard is bare...

[icelandicblue]

So very true Marie. Thanks for your thoughts and insights.