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.

[Pryde Foltz]

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

A little sunset boulevard. Very nice.

[icelandicblue]

So true, Sunset Boulevard indeed. Thanks so much.

[TL Boehm]

the whole poem is amazing and right on target but what really got me and just would not let go were those first few lines. Not sure why but they set the hook so well for the rest of the poem. The melancholy wasn't lost on me - but that first stanza. That's my favorite.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Tammy- It was that first line that was the inspiration for the entire piece.

[Matt Sayer]

Talk about painting a portrait! Your language here is as beautiful as the lethal weapon described, though with far more substance beneath its wicked exterior. The ice-queen, the soul-sucker, the licentious vampiress: you've described this style of woman her fleeting, flickering existence perfectly. Every single stanza in this is utterly brilliant, but I'll make mention of the line "sharp enough to pierce confidence and hearts with equal aplomb." because that just resounded so powerfully as I read it. Marvelous! :)

[icelandicblue]

I enjoy your language as well. Thanks so very much Matt!

[redflutterby]

Hmmm....sounds like one of the great actresses of black and white films!! Not sure which you had in mind though. There will always be that woman who is worshipped and believes she is above us all. Those women tend to have little real happiness and end up alone with nothing but their quickly fading beauty to keep them company. Sad...

[icelandicblue]

It is sad, ego can be deadly giving beauty a false sense of endurance. I've always found that beautiful women who do not know they are beautiful and the true butterflies among us.

[redflutterby]

And I agree...the most beautiful woman in the world will appear ugly if her personality and ego are as well. I could never stand self absorbed artificial women....ughhh!!

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

"than you thought possible,
the tinier she could make you
the greater the fun she'd have." I am completely drawn to this type of confidence in a woman! Great write, I really enjoyed this! Didn't see that ending coming either.

[icelandicblue]

I love your reviews. You always make me feel that I've created something worthwhile. Thank you so much for the review and for the support.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Your write are always worthwhile. You write at a level I wish to attain myself someday. Its nothing but a pleasure reviewing your work.

[Lily Mae]

Most Diva's are crushed by the weight of their egos.. This a powerful and emotion pack poem.. Well done..xo

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Lily. I appreciate it.