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Open Poetry #49
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When My Hair was white repeat from 2007
| Open Poetry #49 |
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When My Hair was white repeat from 2007 |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida 
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A repeat from 2007 when I was still working~~ When my Hair was White Because I had our daughter At the age of thirty eight, I’ve felt the sting of people’s barbs And took it as my fate. My hair mixed strands of white With tresses of dark brown/ So before the day that she was born I had to go to town Some color in a bottle easily Fixed my plight. But as the years passed I left my hair au natural And once again faced solicitous remarks. Asked if mother was at home By a sales man come to call I said “you just lost the sale” As I swiftly closed the door. Through the years I bore the brunt of that. I didn’t care a fig about what others thought. But she heard it more than once I was her “granny”. So once again I sought That elixir in a bottle To try to change other people’s view It worked and I was free to be the who I was. Now I easily answer to my age as platitudes I get When I say my son is nearing fifty eight, I can smile when they say.” Oh my you look so young.” Though I know it is false utterance and really has no meaning; It is better than the placative words I used to hear. Once at work I had let my hair go white. And once again I had to face those dread remarks. “I love to be served by older people “ Said one young man who came in the door I wanted so to tell him “go directly to your room” But instead I smiled politely As he continued in that vein The more he spoke the deeper down he dug... But I in grandmotherly wisdom Just had to give a verbal hug. Over the years I have heard it all And take it with a grin but I must say that most of all I can’t stand the little “dearie’s” That most men throw in “sweetheart” and all of that As they try so hard to please. I understand but that does me no good. I do not need a hand to lift a little pen, Or need to hear sweet words even when given with a grin. I need a man to love me as a woman should be loved For who I am and not because I make them think of grandma Whom they loved when they were young. jo perry Oct. 20 07 © copyright martyjo |
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| © Copyright 2014 martyjo - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Quite a dilemma, Jo, and I suppose some men go through the same type problem. Never forget my late wife's embarrassing situation at the hospital. She was wheelchair bound and I rolled her into a nurses office to deal with paperwork and went back outside to smoke a cancer stick. When I retrieved her she said the nurse wanted to know if her son would be back for her. She was depressed for a month. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Jerry Pat I had many of those episodes that your wife had. I could write a book. I took it as after all I knew how old I was. And white hair or extra weight seems to throw people off.They assume so much. LOL thanks for the read. jo |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Much insight in your words... JL  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Thank you JL. None of it matters now. I was browsing in the archives. Best to you, Jo |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Hi Jo. I'm at the stage of thinking to resist that "bottle" but not yet, not yet. Maybe when I'm 70 but then again maybe not - but who am I really kidding? Decisions, decisions! Enjoyed your words, Jo. Helen |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Thanks Helen.I let it go a while back. I am 82 now so color would look fake now.I liked white hair on young faces and now it seems to fit so it stays. Best to you. Jo |
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Redstart Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535 |
I'm a grandfather but I don't have a grey hair on my head. ('oh, he must be colouring it') They are not content either way. I see this as poetic slap in the face for all those tactless and patronising remarks. White hair is the honoured badge of lfe's experience. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Redstart,thank you for your posting. I love white hair but others seem to be baffled by it.It somehow causes them to develop a mind stutter. It is interesting. One of my brothers started wearing a wig in the fifties. He came to see me and stood there smiling and finally asked "Don't you see something different"? He had always been movie star handsome. So I looked him over and finally said, "Did you have something done to your teeth"? He was amazed as he could not believe I did not notice the wig. Well I did not see him that often and I always looked up to my big brother and honestly did not see any change. But he told me a story as he showed me the wig. He was a sales man and often had some other guys riding in the back seat when he drove.They used to make fun remarks about the wrinkles in the back of his head so he thought he would try a wig. He wore it for a while but stopped and put it aside. All the guys in my family except my middle son are bald. Makes no difference today when you see so many shaving their heads any way. LOL Thank you again for stopping by. Jo Perry P.S. one of my old time friends never went gray or white and she also has people wondering if she uses the magic bottle. |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
A good one, dear Martyjo! I can relate ... the worst color is gray I would say. White is so luminous and I see it also as a sign of wisdom. The coloring is such a stress for the hair too. I agree with you that this theme could fill books! Recently my niece who is gray (early) said that everybody found she looked good in gray, but I disagreed and I think she should color her hair until it becomes natural white. As I said I find gray is awful. Enjoyed your lovely poem! Love, Margherita |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Thank you Margherita, My eyes wear a brighter sparkle when I see your name reviewing any post of mine. And yes indeed the stories of having white hair, if a woman are endless. Men seem to just look more mature and interesting.But many of them have to battle the loss of hair. I mentioned my brother's story and his story of "THE WIG". Best to you my fried, Jo |
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