linger longer
at the stove
they know they ought to
have a hot, fresh meal prepared
when Sir Lord Alpha wanders home.
My tongue stings citrus,
working word fruit from the rind.
Other housewives
jog with strollers
around the block
sun on their shoulders
and greet neighbors like eternity
has passed since they last spoke.
I jumble half-folded clothes into drawers,
subtracting sounds that fall too easy.
Other housewives
keep the balls
moving through the air
and spurn the flaws
they've concealed for years;
months of magazines beside the bed show them how it's done.
I stink of ink and am artfully ignorant.
***
A wink and a nod to Kerry's awesome piece at Skywriting.
Submitted to The Sunday Whirl and Open Link Monday at Real Toads
38 comments:
And yet, thou art the coolest of them all, MZ. ;-)
Oh keep the flame burning, MZ, keep it alive with your last breath!
Ahh... I recognize myself in there somewhere. Just not saying' which one I am ;P
Ahhh... I know you, you would be my mirror... . Clever girl ;) lolol
The coolest of them all indeed, MZ, and you do make my day!!
I like this. I wrote one too for the poetry prompt but read yours before I was half done and garbaged mine. You outshine them all.
That last line is ace--whole poem is about a place I've been and hated HATED--but fortunately don't have to live any more. Never wash that ink off, girl--it will save your life someday.
I'm old enough to have been on both sides of that fence. I definitely prefer, peeling word rind, subtracting sounds, and the stink of ink. Great write, thank you,
Elizabeth
Love it MZ ~ Specially the last line ~
Well done in using the words from the challenge.
smiles...better to stay that way...no need to stay up with the jones and become just another stepford
Greetings,
Nice take on the wordle! Loved every bit of it. It seemed so natural the way you wrote it. I also enjoyed the "everyday housewife" flavor of this.
Nice write.
Benjamin
I loved this! There are housewives, and there are HOUSEWIVES! Whatever gives one pleasure. Your way sounds just perfect to me.
Not sure I should be laughing, but this has such wonderful bite - flipping and tossing the womanly tradition up like a "don't-care" pizza and brazenly stomping on it before the cooking can be done! Love it!
Love this Mama Z! Stereotypes serve so little purpose, always nice to see one tossed onto its head.
hahaha... I'm like that, too, and so happy!
But you are SO much more interesting than Ms. Stepford.
Other housewives do a lot of other things,I'm sure! As long as it will liven up the household and get things moving, it's all that matter! Great write MZ!
Hank
Love this poem! I am leaving you a quote tacked up in my studio, 'Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticist if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, a good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-dressed, well-groomed, and unaggressive.' ~Marya Mannes
this is really smartly written. It snaps playful but so defines the mood. loved the subtracting sounds!
good stuff, you!
~rick
A show of plasticity and a real loss of hope. I'm glad that you refer to them as the 'other'(s). I like my ink and my rind. :)
"I stink of ink and am artfully ignorant."
The last two stanzas together are excellent. A great bite to them.
loved the play of contrasts.bold, biting poetry;overcoming the anxiety of authorship and reveling in the freedom and assertiveness of being an author.
Really nice contrast here. I love the jog with strollers section, for some reason the old cliched film response of going over to a new neighbors house to greet them, perhaps even the asking for a cup of sugar ploy, and of course you used it so masterfully. Great piece MZ. Thanks
Nothing beats doing your own thing...
That last line makes me all kinds of happy inside. You go!
So glad you are "whirling" with us.
I'll echo @Fireblossom - you kick their asses all, and your contempt for them if skillfully, artfully presented. I'll take one of you over 10 one of them. Much love, Mosk
Oh Mama! What a dialogue you have here (and with Kerry)to reveal one truth behind the images, one alternative to the seeming sameness among women that is in truth painted by patriarchal desire. It is not necessarily by men, mind you, it is a competition and status fully supported by the men and women who profit from it either financially or socially. It is hard to imagine that the ruse could ever aid psychology or the spirit
May women sting word fruit from rinds, add and subtract sounds, stink of ink, and be artful forever, amen.
oh, beautiful writing - in a million years i couldn't be one of those other housewives... & finally i'm ok with it
I'd much rather hang with you! We could write and art together and then order pizza!
So clever. Love the sentiment and the chosen rhymes and the touch of gentle bite.
This is certainly something to boast of: "My tongue stings citrus"
I would cook for you...lol. so that you could keep putting out little gems like this. Your words are always cutting and wise, I like the road you seem to travel.
"working word fruit from the rind"
I loved that. Just the picture of it in my head was amazing.
I agree with Tania. "Word fruit" is wonderful. So is this poem, MZ. I'm no housewife, either. Thank goodness.
K
I see I'm not alone in saying this is something I too could have written. Well done. Oh, I think you are Artfully Aware!
My take is here:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/07/sw-64-wordle-diamond-in-rough.html
You may stink of ink, but ignorant you are not! :)
A Brief Whirl
"working word fruit from the rind"
Oh my god, this is brilliant.
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