made of other's expectations
once I learned
wearing midnight complimented wild illusion.
It is a malleable material
conforming to all the dimensions of me
that I wish to express.
"Wearing midnight complimented wild illusion."
Blackout madness continues. This page came out of "Kindred Steel",
one of the short stories in my collection,
The Trouble with Wanting and Other Not-Quite Faerie Tales.
Head to my Instagram for more blackout/ found poetry.
Head to my Instagram for more blackout/ found poetry.
This poem is linked to Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads' Tuesday Platform and Poets United's Poetry Pantry 478.
Liner Notes for this Groove: I have a birthday coming up this weekend! In my travels on the internet, I've run into several articles with helpful (not) suggestions of what a mature woman my age should and should not be wearing.
To those articles, I respectfully blow a giant raspberry.
Oh I understand that it's probably not a great idea to wear a bathing suit to a formal winter wedding, but just because I'm closer to the big 5-0 than 21, it doesn't mean I'm giving up my blue jeans and nerdy t-shirts.
Like with most things, I try to find a happy balance. Arnold Bennett once wrote, “The proper, wise balancing of one's whole life may depend upon the feasibility of a cup of tea at an unusual hour.” One must be as wise in selecting their outfit as they are in selecting the right tea for the right moment. There's a certain decorum that must be observed in the office for instance. But there's nothing to say that office-appropriate dress can't have little Captain America shields tucked away as part of the pattern, or a print inspired by the Rebel Alliance logo.
So Groovers, catch me up on what's going on with you. As always, if you'd like to continue the conversation in your cyber-residence, mention it in your comments below.
Song Choice: Q.U.E.E.N. by Janelle Monae featuring Erykah Badu
In case I don’t bump into you on the poetry trail before the weekend, I wish you a happy birthday, Rommy, and join you in raspberry blowing! I steadfastly refuse to grow old gracefully, including drinking tea at an unusual hour. I l would most definitely wear midnight complimented with wild illusion.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we should have a mad tea party! Thank you for the birthday wishes. :)
Deletewearing midnight complimented wild illusion... oh yes! Happy Birthday, Rommy. Have a lovely tea-at-weird-hours kind of day!
ReplyDeleteI most certainly plan to!
DeleteEvery time I go around casting off my clothing at midnight, I get in sooo much trouble!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, I love the metaphor.
A little trouble isn't a bad thing in the right circumstances. ;) LOL, glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteHappiest Birthday in advance, Rommykins!!❤️ I think it's absolutely absurd to define women in terms of age and what they should be wearing. Who gave these people the right to decide anyway? The sun is sweltering here in my part of the world, I just came back from a job interview.. one of these days I am going to get selected.. sigh .. *Big hugs!*❤️
ReplyDeleteGood luck on that job interview! I'll keep my fingers crossed on your behalf. <3 And thanks for the birthday wishes.
DeleteMany Happy Returns of the Day, Rommy! Wishing you in advance! I love your assertion of individuality and casting off those expectations. Very well said!
ReplyDeleteI have this pact with a friend about making people uncomfortable as much as possible by never letting go of our authenticity and personal expression. :-)
I. Freaking. Love. That.
DeleteYou and your friend rock. I will keep you guys in mind while my late 40's year old self is rocking a Wednesday Addams style dress when I visit a street fair in the city with the hubs next month.
I love playing with blackout poems. This one turned out so well! Happy Birthday, you still spring chicken, you!
ReplyDeleteLOL, thank you! I've been feeling a bit old with having a child in college and another one discussing potential colleges. I think a good session of video game playing once the eldest is back home will help remind me of my feathers. :D
DeleteI love this. All of it... The way your poem gives us such a clear glimpse into Yuuki (have I told you how much I love that character?), and the way the words express my own believes about fashion and such. I shall wear what makes me happy--midnight, spring wilds, nothing--and be more me because of it.
ReplyDeleteUm... "mature woman"? What is that? I am properly vintaged. 😀
I shall add to your Blogging Around in a few days.
I didn't start out intending this piece to be specific to Yuuki, but once I was done figuring out the words I wanted to use, I was delighted by the Yuuki-like feel of it.
DeleteVintage! I love it. I'm going to have to steal that expresssion. ;)
happy birthday. Clothing is quite a perfect metaphor for how and whether conduct conforms to expectations
ReplyDeleteClothing is such a personal thing, and it's one of the easiest ways to express oneself.
DeleteWe're supposed to give up jeans and nerdy t-shirts as we age? Hey, nobody sent ME that memo, LOL! Enjoy the upcoming Big Five Oh!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get that memo, burn it right away and pretend you never saw it!
DeleteI hope you have a simply wonderful wacky birthday! Love the poem.
ReplyDeleteWacky? Maybe a little. It will definitely be a busy one. And happy too, as my son gets home from college this weekend.
DeleteAgain, I am gleeful about your blackout art and simply delighted by your poem. "once I learned wearing midnight complimented wild illusion" Love that line!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie. I can't believe I've made it to almost the end of the month working on these.
DeleteI'm with you about wearing whatever one chooses. Luckily, I live in a town where that's perfectly acceptable. Love your poem! (Enjoyed the word-play on cast-off.)
ReplyDeleteMy town is *just* quirky enough for me to get by with most of what I like. But I do like heading into the city every now and again where all that doesn't really matter.
Deletehappy birthday, Rommy ~
ReplyDeleteThanks Grapeling. And thanks for stopping by.:)
DeleteAnd here is my bit for this week:
ReplyDeletehttps://magalysblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/after-mastectomy-months-of-chemo-and.html
You and your irradiated bits are always welcome!
Delete☢️ *runs away cackling!*
DeleteYour beautiful poem says it all. Clothing made of other's expectations is always not a comfortable fit. Here's to celebrating your day, and not conforming to expectations!
ReplyDeleteI'll raise a mug of tea to that!
DeleteGreat poem!!
ReplyDeletehappy HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
i try to wear everything the article tells me not to. :)
*snicker snort* Me too!
DeleteLove this, Rommy! Have a wonderful birthday, in fact, celebrate it in your birthday suit.
ReplyDelete*twirls around nekkid under a cherry blossom tree*
DeleteSorry to be late with this response. Life! Oooo, I love wearing midnight! Yes, it IS a malleable material! Love that image.
ReplyDeleteLOL, only fashionably late, and that's quite all right!
DeleteLove that phrase "...wearing midnight complemented with wild illusion" - The older we are the more we realise that there's freedom to do anything you like!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Bring on peculiar old-ladyhood! :D
DeleteI only read the other day it is good for you (and me) to sleep naked. That's OK in summertime Australia when it does warm up and the air conditioner keeps winking at you.
ReplyDeleteSome seasons in Philadelphia that's just an invitation for old Jack Frost to nip at the nethers, but it's just fine to do in July and August.
DeleteI like the idea of casting off clothing of others' expectations. I don't think there is a particular clothing appropriate for whatever age. I think we should all feel free to wear our own 'midnights' when we choose. And, ha, what is a 'mature woman' anyway? Smiles. (And....happy birthday! Smiles.)
ReplyDeleteLOL, I know I'm certainly not one!
DeleteI love wearing midnight complimenting wild illusion. What a wonderful line that is!!! Loved this, Rommy. Happy birthday, kiddo. I am 72 and it is blue jeans and wolf t-shirts all the way! LOL. When my sister and I go out, we make quite the contrast - she is a banker and dresses well. Me, not so much, lol, impoverished, crazy hair, toothy wolves on my chest...........and loving it!
ReplyDeleteKeep rocking those wolf shirts!
DeleteI usually break the rules of clothing in small ways... for instance I have started to wear a tie at work when everyone else have ceased to do it :-) but I could see myself wearing the nerdy t-shirts too... I dress according to my expectations not other's
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with looking dapper if it's your choice to do so.
DeleteI love your message Rommey. I'm way past the big 50. It's time I dress to be happy not to make others happy. You have taught me something my own daughter has been trying to teach me since she was little - fashion freedom.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful birthday and may you always be young in heart, body and spirit.
My daughter dressed in what I called couture d'Pippi Longstocking when she was little. I noticed how happy it made her and thought "Why should she have all the fun?"
DeleteHappy birthday! This is a splendid poem and...there are rules of clothing? :) I'm sure midnight is perfect for all occasions.
ReplyDeleteIt's even better than the legendary little black dress.
DeleteAnother well written post - I loved the poem. Your observations open up lots of layers to ruminate on. It is a subject that, I must confess, I haven't thought about much, lately. I tend to chose by comfort level … and that has only gotten more pronounced with the passage of years.
ReplyDeleteComfort is important to me too. And pockets. I'm a sucker for a dress with pockets.
Delete