Mid-Life (It's About Damn Time)

My crisis began
years ago, when I was made
into a topiary girl

with well concealed roots
false flowers in place
of where real ones used to grow.

There is no crisis
in finally showing
all my gnarls and bumps
and in owning the colors
that were always mine.

This is healing.




Liner Notes for This Groove: This poem is linked to the Friday Writings post at Poets and Storytellers United.

22 comments:

  1. I'm trying to imagine it, being sheared and shaped and how that happened.

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    1. Slowly, methodically, and ordinarily, as in being so ingrained into the routine it was hard to spot at first.

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  2. Those gnarls and bumps and real colours may be far more beautiful than the neat, supposedly pretty shapes imposed for someone else's idea of what's acceptable.

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  3. Love, love, LOVE this poem and its powerful central image of being turned into a "topiary girl" by the expectations and norms of society!

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  4. I am with you, older folk are supposed to show knots, bumps, and LOTS of RED. Aren't they? I sure do.
    When I first read your writer being a "topiary girl" my mind automatically went to "topiary jewellery" and that she wore a lot of it. Ha, silly me.
    ..
    Jim,
    jimmiehov6.blogspot.com
    ..

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    1. OK, but topiary jewelry sounds really cool. Or maybe a necklace with a naturally small air fern as a focal point.

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  5. Gorgeous. I deeply connect with this piece.

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  6. You are your special someone and thats beautiful.
    Luv this poem

    Have a nice weekend

    Much💚love

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    1. I hope your weekend is lovely and peaceful Gillena

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  7. I love this poem... and you, especially after the best mid-life crises I've ever heard of. In my mind and heart, it sounds more like a rebirth. Everyone (who hasn't been allowed to grow wild) should have a crisis like this.

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  8. There is no crisis, indeed. How I love the third stanza! Oh heck, I love the whole poem. Brilliant write, Rommy.

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  9. Those gnarls & bumps, there's no point hiding them, isn't it? because if you are beautiful, you are beautiful. :)

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    1. No point at all. If you've got it, flaunt it. :D

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  10. In a world of filtered, blurred, gauzy photography ... I love the real images, completely untouched. People at their very best.

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    1. Any image that is filled with un-retouched, genuine joy is lovely.

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  11. The gnarls and bumps are what made us into what we are

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  12. I feel that topiary girl thing! Family and then society try to trim you into shape but eventually you grow wild! :)

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