Each deeply creased line
On her strong -Leonine face
Telling a story of the world she witnessed
Shaped by the sun - Colored with rust
The mouth turned down to take deep drags of smoke into her lungs
Smoke lit with a match not a fancy lighter
Or an offer by a man
Hands and arms that speak of holding
No sissy ladies watch on her wrist
I can hear the husky voice interrogating
anyone who might try to stand in her way
Only the hat looks out of place
I do not see her lying under a sun umbrella
nor worrying about applying sunscreen
I can see her walking the beach
Listening to the waves as if they were ideas
I can hear her say "Let the wrinkles gather here"
Un-plucked brows knitted high above heavy eyelids
Folded over eyes that saw lovers come and go
And never shed a tear
Not grandmother material
She reminds me of mine
She never took any bull from anyone either
They could have been best friends
Yet mine was softer around the edges
She did love her cigarettes
and I remember best her laugh
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Eljekar
Darla Carmichael
Poor Woman
Elizabeth Priddy
Nusser
Tinkerbelle Nitely
Salon.com
Comments
I can relate so well to what you write here...I have no idea who that woman is, but I am drawn to older women's faces over and over, so many are erasing their life's journey with fillers and fixes, their journey is lost to the view, in my opinion.
Give me some strong lines that chart the way life has been handled any day...much more beautiful, I say.
Your words transfixed me as well, "Could have shown me that it was my passion I needed to grab
Not the safety of home and family"
While I hope it's not either/or, I miss the days I chose passion, the wild hair, the spontaneous venture...not that it's all over : )
And of course it is never too late! Fearless is a choice, I believe you can find! So ahead of her time, as are you my friend.
R
I can already hear how her voice would sound.
I would love to make her laugh,
and open up.
And tell me what is what.
Loved this!
HUGGGGGGGGGGGG
The lady you are refering to is a GRAND DAME.and so are you.
You did an excellent job,R.P.
The lady you are refering to is a GRAND DAME,and so are you.
I have no idea who she is but I’d want to know her.
I hope to age strong and wear my age with pride like her.
Your words are and indication of your wisdom and strength.
We done!
I loved this assignment, glad you did too. You did it so well.
"A warrior on the front lines of life"
(Now there's a great line)
♥R
-r-
This was cool and terrific, RP.
You have kept this heroine and the fact that you had one
hidden away from the public until now.
Here she is. You have done good by her.
note: i am going to go on guessing what her name is
She was acquired through a time warp.
Wherein the rp snapped a shot of herself, later.
Ha.
That is the only logical answer.
Although her name might be Edith Palaver.
one or the other,
i dunno.
don't comment on her own blogs no more?"
i say, "sir, she is exercising artistic discretion"
then some punkass says, 'yeah, well, she is neglecting
the SECOND ARTFORM IN THE OS."
i say, this is her choice.
(tease)
Thanks for giving me one more to admire, you're on my list too.
I'm all for it except the cigarette smoking but I know women from that the generation who were tough as nails yet would do anything for those they loved and strangers too.
Great poem.
Stunning. Rated.
The women would remind one of Lilian Hellman, just guessing here.
If you want to know this face, its deeds and time, either read "Julia",
a memoir of WW II' s adventures of mistreating women on a grand scale --quite like in Afghanistan, much of the West today even -- and, for the reading reluctant, at least watch the film, which stars Jane Fonda and a strong supporting cast.
But in this time inured face, its shameless lines and pleasant insouciance tasting the moment, the sun, her life: no huge matter it may say, quite as if she recently discarded Picasso as her lover.