This visual prompt from Magpie Tales netted me an interesting (at least to me) poem.
Please enjoy.
What was that really about and what did it feed into?
It was constant vigilance for abhorred wrongness
Until finally, this week, lifetime longing was made right
I have never lived in a bright pink room
I remember my friend who did
She was an ultimate girly girl
Her brother’s and mother and father
Revered her girly girlness.
I felt, still feel, someplace, my girly girlness
Was sometimes tolerated, mostly reviled.
I wished for for ruffles
Longed after tiaras and bows and glittering skin powder
And came to terms with (through giving it all up)
Due to excessive teasing and constant discomfort
Yet still hovering, still yearning is the
Overwhelming desire to ask Mom
To make me something, an outfit,
Something new and finally discovery
Her stitching matches my desire
nicely done- I enjoyed this thoughtful piece
Posted by: KatheW | July 03, 2010 at 06:27 AM
Wonderful piece. I love how you took the pink and the stitching, and worked your inner feelings in. Magic.
Posted by: willow | July 03, 2010 at 07:38 AM
'Girly girlness' ... something about these two words strikes a wonderful chord in me. (My mother made all of my clothes growing up ~ anything I asked for.) Thank you for writing this.
Posted by: Helen | July 03, 2010 at 08:28 AM
Lovely piece and that need for a mother to understand her daughter..to understand her need for pink, for ruffles for being a girl...bkm
Posted by: barbara | July 03, 2010 at 03:50 PM
growing up a tomboy and my mother who sewed our clothes i can wonderfully admire your beautiful 4th of july poem... trying to fit right takes time... now i am in possession of a pink purse and feel totally empowered... haha.. aint it cool... fireworks
Posted by: one more believer | July 03, 2010 at 09:22 PM
nice unique take on the prompt...i like it...never much for pink mysel...but remember mom sewing quite a bit...nice magpie.
Posted by: brian miller | July 04, 2010 at 04:11 AM
Once again Julie you've got me thinking!
As a child growing up, I always worked hard to impress my father by doffing at all things girly. Now a woman, with so much wrapped up in being seen as "strong", I feel like I gypped myself. I think we sometimes are taught that being strong is not being feminine. I hope I do a better job with my daughter, who loves to wear a dress when she digs in the dirt....
Thank you for such a thoughtful poem!
- Dina
Posted by: Dina Spice | July 04, 2010 at 06:06 PM
Oh, there is so much story here! Delightful!
Posted by: Tumblewords | July 04, 2010 at 08:36 PM
Really very good poem... Pink makes my ghostly skin have some living color! I am Pretty in Pink!!
Posted by: Lyn | July 05, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Hah! A really pretty poem... reliving the pink days...
BEAUTIFUL !
Have a glorious July.. :))
Posted by: Kavita | July 06, 2010 at 03:30 PM