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Vanity
| Open Poetry #21 |
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Vanity |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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Vanity Entering the blue light world beneath a giant K To hoard some Martha Stewart goods before she goes away I watched myself approaching in an ordinary way A lady in the doors of glass so shyly on display I wouldn’t recognize myself, if I had come upon Myself, a high school classmate, in the class of sixty one I look like just a stranger now, especially to myself About to empty out another Martha Stewart shelf I felt the weight of aging as I pulled the heavy door In my kneecaps which were damaged when I scrubbed the bathroom floor I think they call it displaced pain, for everything I bear Goes down the shoulder, back and legs, into the knee somewhere Pretending to look effortless, the pulling of a door I felt a buckle in my knee, as I had pulled before I noticed, as envisioning a Martha blue light rush, The little words right on the door directing me to push Once in the store I hobbled right to her bathroom supplies As the color of my toilet mat flashed right before my eyes For K Mart was the only place that had my shade of blue And K Mart could be gone real soon, and Martha Stewart, too I quickly found my color, that enhanced my toilet seat Bath and guest towels, washcloths, rugs, to make the set complete Since I forgot to get a cart while limping through the door I gathered all my things and made my way across the store Then someone kindly offered me a little helping hand “How nice of you to notice“, and then turning toward the man A youthful, handsome face appeared from out the distant past The president of sixty one’s great graduating class! I said “no need to help“, and hid behind the toilet mat As they announced a blue light on the Martha Stewart rack I didn’t know which way to turn to make him disappear So I headed to the check out as he headed toward the rear I paid and left disheartened that I missed a blue light sale Pushing on a door marked pull, my knee began to fail Because of my own vanity, (that’s just a little pun) I didn’t admit that I was from the class of sixty one Then staggering across the lot, I looked back at the glass And saw a pretty teenager, from my own high school class I recognized her after all, I knew just where she sat The one who hid her face behind an aqua toilet mat How quickly years are passing by, how difficult to see The changes that have taken place inside the person ’ME” But some things never change, and as I put my goods away I found three aqua bathroom sets unopened til today And as of yet our Kmart store has no intent to close How many sets of curtains I will hoard, nobody knows Elizabeth Santos |
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| © Copyright 2002 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
ROTFL with tears down my face...and that's NOT the way I should be greeting clients! Our Elizabeth...who knows where all the Charmin' is hid...has it out in fully display! This is priceless, and a certified  !! |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
I know there is humor here and I'm sure I could see it, if I couldn't see so much other stuff all too clearly. When head toward those glass doors on department stores, I meet this old lady wrapped around my body, my body that feels too much like an adolescent when it comes to wisdom and confidence. Yep, given opportunity, I'd be hidin' behind the mat, too! Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
How quickly years are passing by, how difficult to see The changes that have taken place inside the person ’ME” But some things never change, and as I put my goods away I found three aqua bathroom sets unopened til today And as of yet our Kmart store has no intent to close How many sets of curtains I will hoard, nobody knows This is so precious, Liz... I think it really is a poem about everywoman... or should I say everywoman who graduated high school in 61. I too, graduated in 61...and I see a lot of myself in this piece, especially the part about finding all of those unwrapped goodies at home.... Yes, I have done this over and over...and I have had 2 loving husbands, both who have laughed at this peculiar quirk. Now I know where it comes from...thanks to you, dear friend. It is part and parcel of having graduated in 61.  ~ hugs to (sort of) classmateLyra |
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WhiteRose Member Elite
since 2002-07-23
Posts 3208somebody's dungeon |
Yes I agree..this is a keeper. It's a delight. Though I am a Wal-Mart fan myself, I enjoyed this with laughter and a sense of sorrow for the lapse of years myself. Thank you for this. In truth, what defines us is our poetry. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Liz Speaking here from the class of '60...I have seen that reflection in the door and read this with a sense that I was reading not of you, but me. This was delightful and also thoughtfully done. Made me want to hug you great big! |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
I found this somewhat amusing but in all sincerity, the more I read the more I began to understand. I managed for them for 12 1/2 years (long time ago) so this one sort of had me in another view of it also and I must say........it happens more often than you would imagine. Very enjoyable read. |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big huggssssssss) Oh Elizabeth, while it is hard for me to imagine what 61 must have felt like, I too cried reading this and wish I could give you a big hug! (sigh) It breaks my heart to see K-Mart going down, that is a popular store and now because of Martha Stewart's scandal it just may close its book! (sad sigh) This is very well said, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Elizabeth, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Lord love a duck! You had me in tears (the laughing kind), and oh I love it when you do this. You have no aqua in your house, hourd curtains...what about lampshades?  Oh Lizzie girl, you have made my day, well morning for you I guess, and on that note I will try to sleep still laughing. (MS is in big trouble but her products will survive - it's business!) Love ya oh clever one!I pass this way but once so I hope to meet you. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
I have been so busy I forgot I posted this, Your responses are hilarious! I enjoyed them as much as writing the poem, THanks for your fun comments. Liz |
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