Shall I become a vapid lay?
Like she, all the shes, mommas, prickly and bright.
The shes standing in line with their wine and lip
shine.
The mommas with their soccer balls,
mating calls,
chasing
grades and smalls and babydolls.
Shall I feather a wisp of hair
ever sweet across a cheek
and answer my door mid-chore
as the lovely, languid lady of the house?
My man be damned
belly filler, bacon slayer
bringin’ the meat with angry feet,
tight-lipped, teeth
chipped
and his hair a little grayer.
Momma taught us how to suck and walk
grace under buttons, shaming gluttons
of the modern deuce unit.
Skinny minds trapped in a belt of jesus felt-
Babies, babies, pay and die.
Worky, worky, smile and lie.
Shall I wink for him, shy and prim?
Laughing grim in a circle of wifely dim?
Sigh, man.
The man.
Dan and Sharon birthing Sam
Dan and Sharon birthing Sam
A normal stacked with blanks to fill
slapping pork chops on a grill.
slapping pork chops on a grill.
No hell way.
Not a chance.
Time stands still for no man
and stiller still for his little woe-man.
I’ll dance without pants
scream and steal a slim chance
to live the way I want to die-
with a grin, full of sin
through the cataract of godly men
who peel away the haze of try
through the cataract of godly men
who peel away the haze of try
with a finger
in her wicked eye.
in her wicked eye.
________________________________________________________________________________
This is me pledging my undying love for sweet Sinead for the Real Toads prompt,
in all her rebel glory and for all her silly renegade shenanigans.
You're right there next to Joan Jett, girlfriend. Right there.
in all her rebel glory and for all her silly renegade shenanigans.
You're right there next to Joan Jett, girlfriend. Right there.
oooh undying love for YOU for participating and for this fierce and fabulous tome! i too love sinead with every fiber of my being. LET'S GO xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteYou rule. This kicks arse.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I am a mum who chases smalls AND dances without pants (but just at home).
Here are some of my favorite lines:
"chasing grades and smalls and babydolls"
"Momma taught us how to suck and walk
grace under buttons"
"Skinny minds trapped in a belt of jesus felt-
Babies, babies, pay and die.
Worky, worky, smile and lie."
"with a grin, full of sin
through the cataract of godly men
who peel away the haze of try
with a finger
in her wicked eye"
Sinead could easily sing "Proletariat." I love how you show that it is a job description women are raised into by other women and institutions, but do not necessarily choose and that even now saying "no" gets "a finger in her wicked eye" from the self-proclaimed Godly.
ReplyDeleteI love the language you use which, like Sinead's is a way of saying "in your eye" even if the word "no" is not actually said. Too many favorite lines to pick one out of the delicate weaving of your poem.
I love what you do with your words - the musicality of the rhymes and upbeat tempo in lines such as these:
ReplyDeleteMy man be damned
belly filler, bacon slayer
bringin’ the meat with angry feet,
tight-lipped, teeth chipped
and his hair a little grayer.
Honestly, I had to google, wiki, and try to remember if this was a sinead song.
ReplyDeletethis was great. You and marian both rocked your interpretations. I loved the first line. It's gritty as hell.
I have to agree with Lance. "Shall I become a vapid lay?" Sheer grit.
ReplyDeleteI read that and thought "whoa!" I had to stop reading since I promised myself a paddleboard ride this morning deciding I didn't want to rush through this. Now I'm back. You rock (have I ever told you that?)
Sinead could be singing this herself. She is was and always will be a rebel for the cause. This rocked!
ReplyDeleteYou jump in with both feet and swim like a champ with this one. Bold. Unafraid. Unashamed. Powerful
ReplyDeleteYikes! You guys are makin' me blush....
ReplyDeleteAs one of Sinead's songs says, "if you spit in the sky, it will land in your eye". I liked the line about answering the door mid-chore, as the lovely languid lady of the house.
ReplyDeleteHmm this is loud and clear...how so many fall into these typical rolls...
ReplyDeletethis:
"My man be damned
belly filler, bacon slayer
bringin’ the meat with angry feet,
tight-lipped, teeth chipped
and his hair a little grayer."
Really rung out solid to me...seen the cycle...yes, I've seen this cyclical thing.
The sentiment of this very portion is what inspired my piece for Marian's prompt.
Excellent piece!!
I wonder why I've never read you before?! So glad to cross poetical paths!
"Shall I become a vapid lay?" I don't remember that line from the sonnets...visual and observational, edgy without sliding downhill into anger. Fine piece of writing.
ReplyDeleteQuite spirited, this little lady! :) I don't think any man stands a chance at taming her.
ReplyDelete