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.

[Scott Metro]

But when she is in prime...she is a danger to even the gods....
Well woven...insightful.

Admiration.

Scott

[icelandicblue]

I thank you Scott...I like your synopsis.

[Rita L. Sev]

Fading beauty... so sad for women for whom their looks are their greatest asset... You tell her story so well here, Blue.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Rita- always appreciated.

[MsJewel]

This reminds me of the old black and white movies I love so much, with the elegant and beautiful leading lady who has faded into the gray curtained background as "The End" flashes upon the screen...Never heard from again - as we wonder "what ever happened to..."

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

Brilliant writing. An enjoyable read!
:) Julie

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much for reading and commenting Julie.

[Ruth]

What was with flare, no more...this is saddening and so emotive. I particularly like the scanning in this piece too, just beautiful! x

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Poppy, I appreciate it.

[Anand Sehgal]

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

brilliant use of language. loved it :)
**********************************************************************************************************************

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so very much!

[Anita Singh]

Wow! It reminded me of The Potrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I loved the lines: her lyrical laugh floating.
She was an enigma.
Like a flower pressed in a book for ages,
loved and must
but liable to fall to dust.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for sharing that....it's beautiful. I appreciate your reading and review.

[Angi]

Blue, this is a wonderful piece. It has a huge slice of slightly skewed and drunken nostalgia stirred into the mix. I am seeing little flashes of black and white noir ladies, hats tipped just so, silkened stocking seams peaking as they look over their shoulders at me. How awful it must be to see your skin fade like that, when that is all you have ever been. Vodka sales are very steady, my liquor store friend tells me. Angi~

[icelandicblue]

I adore your review, I could have lived in the 40's I think. ; )

[Baby Ricochet]

Old movie stars fade into drunken stupors. Fame is a fickle mistress and crap like that. Good story type poem. Sometimes when "We got Nothing" something different comes out. It happens to me all the time

[icelandicblue]

Fame and beauty are powerful drugs...the withdrawal is a killer. Thanks BR

[Jack...]

Anne, you have outdone yourself with this one. This hooked me and held me tight for the ride. It was as if I were standing there, watching this unfold. Reminds me of an old movie with Joan Crawford, but I can't for the life of me remember the title...I must be getting old. Very nicely done my friend.

[icelandicblue]

I think you're right about the Crawford movie or maybe even her life. Thanks for the nice review. ; )

[Dr. Wood ?]

simply wonderful write ICE, Applause from over here

[icelandicblue]

Thanks there Dr. Wood. I haven't had much inspiration so I was happy to put some words to paper.

[Dr. Wood ?]

Pretty good scribble I'd say, maybe you should lose inspiration more often....I am not writing poetry now as I am concentrating on Billy Beam, I'll post the next chapter in a tick....

[icelandicblue]

I'm not feeling the quill these days and when that happens I'm always afraid I've written my last piece worth writing. So thank you for that my friend, it is appreciated.

[Dr. Wood ?]

we all stall.....but it is always temporary, you are a writer...so you will write....Nuff said