navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #37 » uppity woman blues
Open Poetry #37
Post A Reply Post New Topic uppity woman blues Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest

0 posted 2006-03-18 02:21 AM



Althea left us tonight
gone flying to Georgia
her children found her a home

87 years old
ready to start over  
   not New Orleans
   she said
   but Georgia’s pretty close to the south

   honey
   it’s gonna take more ‘n some little ole storm
   to keep this uppity woman down

I will miss her gentle countenance
wise words
over café au lait
of a morning

age curtained eyes
sharp as glass
sweet smell of ginger
no lipstick
   it leaks into the age lines
   don’t you know
   makes me look like a clown
   and I won’t have that

   I had many a young man honey
   I gave sugar for sugar
   I gave salt for salt
   if they didn’t like it
   it was their own damn fault

  every shuteye ain’t sleep
  every goodbye ain’t gone
  but when this uppity woman told a man goodbye
  honey she was gone

she called my boy to her
crooking a long finger
each ivory boned joint
a tick in time
  come here Louie
  darlin’
  you are pullin’ on that sensitive nerve of mine again
  talkin’ trash
  about your young lady
  callin’ her out of her name  
  treatin’ her like she’s a
  what’s that word you use
  why son
  I never
  do you kiss your mama with that mouth
  
87 years old and that uppity woman can still
defy a hurricane
and put a young man in his place

[This message has been edited by The Lady (03-18-2006 11:26 PM).]

© Copyright 2006 Kate - All Rights Reserved
serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

1 posted 2006-03-18 02:47 AM


We MUST get her and Bettie together, except, sometimes I have to ask B:

"Do you kiss your rosary with that mouth?"

"gawd forgives me" she says.

Much enjoyed, lady.

There is a lot of displaced gentility goin' on these days.

icebox
Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383
in the shadows
2 posted 2006-03-18 05:36 AM




*smile*


StevenS
Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945
L. A. (Lower Alabama)
3 posted 2006-03-18 05:58 AM


Thats what you call 87 years young. :-) Love this Lady and that Uppity Woman to!:-)
Excellent! A three smiley! :-)

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
4 posted 2006-03-18 07:05 AM


no lipstick
   it leaks into the age lines
   don’t you know
   makes me look like a clown
   and I won’t have that


she sounds feisty  and enjoyable ~~

M

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
5 posted 2006-03-18 09:30 AM


Llllllllllllllove it, Kate!  She sounds a honeybunch and a realllllllllll character!  But then you make everyone you write about lovable and full of character!

- Owl

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
6 posted 2006-03-18 10:09 AM


She literally leapt off the page with your vivid portrayal of her! Not only am I in awe of her ~ I'm in awe of your writing!

Bow Down Bow Down

Linda

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
7 posted 2006-03-18 10:15 AM


This sings like a good blues song...

" I had many a young man honey
   I gave sugar for sugar
   I gave salt for salt
   if they didn’t like it
   it was their own damn fault

  every shuteye ain’t sleep
  every goodbye ain’t gone
  but when this uppity woman told a man    goodbye
  honey she was gone"

   Yea! you tll 'em A...

Great stuff, enjoyed

---------ice
   ><>

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
8 posted 2006-03-18 11:29 AM



Smiling at this uppity piece...

I was going to send it to a special friend...
but she beat me here to read it first!



Gotta love women like these...


Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
9 posted 2006-03-18 01:56 PM


Love this..love the spunky woman in this piece!
Excellent write and a most enjoyable read.
Hugs~Nancy

~ Trace my body with your words,
  in doing so, you touch my heart ~

The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
10 posted 2006-03-18 11:39 PM



Serenity, I love, "Do you kiss your rosary with that mouth?" Thank you so much.

*Smile* icebox and thanks.

Thank you Steven!  

M, thanks for your reply.

Althea is all that and more Diana. Some people are poems that need no writing. Thank you.

Thank you so much Linda.  

Thank you ice.. those lines are Althea's gift to me.

Thank you Sunshine. I want to be an Althea some day.

Nancy, thank you for your sweet response.  



XOx Uriah xOX
Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403
Virginia
11 posted 2006-03-19 04:16 PM


You always express the life and spark of your characters so well.  Another excellent job.  I am grateful for the "Big Mamas" in my own life.  Each time I got too big for my britches, they would tongue lash me or grab my ear and drag me to my parents. LOL   They were and always will be held with great respect.  Thank you for this.  It touched my heart.
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
12 posted 2006-03-19 04:28 PM



Thank you Uriah.


Goldenrose
Member Elite
since 2003-05-30
Posts 3665

13 posted 2006-03-19 05:07 PM


Your attention to detail is so good lady, i agree with Linda, she was with us, or rather we were there with her..a great talent you have lady.. .. thank you very much for your words..
Goldenrose.

Desire for nothing except desirelessness,hope for nothing except to rise above all hopes, want nothing and you will have everything.avatar Meher Baba.

The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
14 posted 2006-03-19 05:26 PM




You're so kind Goldenrose.
Thank you so much.

Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
15 posted 2006-03-19 05:30 PM


She sounds like a classic southern belle...soft and sweet on the outside but rock solid on the inside. I met a few of those ladies the year I worked a convention in New Orleans....they were wonderful. I'm sure your Althea will be missed.
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
16 posted 2006-03-19 05:57 PM



Oh you KNOW Althea Poet deVine! Yes, she will be sorely missed. Thank you so much.

WindWalker
Senior Member
since 2001-10-12
Posts 1218

17 posted 2006-03-19 06:15 PM


I agree, you always express the life and spark of your characters so well!!!!!!!!!!!
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
18 posted 2006-03-19 06:17 PM



Thank you WindWalker!


iliana
Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434
USA
19 posted 2006-03-21 03:12 AM


Oh, I do enjoy a person with spunk!  I think both you and she have it and it shows!   ....jo
bubblesleave
Member
since 2006-03-04
Posts 197
Bloomington, IN
20 posted 2006-03-21 03:15 AM


WONDERFUL!
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
21 posted 2006-03-21 12:36 PM




Thank you so much Jo.  

bubblesleave, I truly appreciate your reponses...


cody 2
Junior Member
since 2006-03-12
Posts 48
london
22 posted 2006-03-21 12:38 PM


you made me smile as i picture her, great
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
23 posted 2006-03-21 01:22 PM



Thank you cody. She would love your smile.

El_Campeador
Senior Member
since 2003-01-29
Posts 761
Ohio, USA
24 posted 2006-03-21 01:48 PM


I like it! Thanks for sharing with us...

Ben

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
25 posted 2006-03-21 02:45 PM



Thank you Ben.

Dominique-Simone
Senior Member
since 2005-11-12
Posts 643

26 posted 2006-03-23 09:56 PM


Oh my!!
Dominique-Simone
Senior Member
since 2005-11-12
Posts 643

27 posted 2006-03-23 09:57 PM


Magnificent!!!!! I am moved by your amazing ability to write. Lately I have lost my passion. Although, I am sure it will return I do miss it so.
terasinas
Member
since 2006-03-24
Posts 91
Michigan ... The Great Lakes
28 posted 2006-03-24 02:11 AM


Don't cha jsut love the old ones, they are so intersting. Loved your portrayal of Uppity .. touching
suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
29 posted 2006-03-26 02:53 PM


When I saw your title, I thought of Saffire, The Uppity Blues Women (whose music I love *S*)

I love Althea's song, too... she sounds like an unforgettable steel magnolia... Thank you for sharing her with us! *S*

Klassy Lassy
Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187
Oregon
30 posted 2006-03-26 03:14 PM


I once knew a woman like her.  Loved her to pieces!  Spunk and fire...she knew herself and said it like it was.  She wasn't from the south, but I miss her.  

And I love this word paint!

~ Karen


Paul Wilson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711
United States
31 posted 2006-03-26 07:11 PM


The Lady...Wow...Now this is some pure down South poetry. You done good dear lady.
Georgia ain't New Orleans but it will do...Paul

~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~
Paul

The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
32 posted 2006-03-28 05:24 PM




Thank you Page. I am sure your passion will return when you finish your present project.

Thank you terasinas. The old ones are treasures.

suthern, I appreciate your reply.

Thank you Klassy Lassy.

Thank you so much Paul.

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
33 posted 2006-03-29 10:24 PM


thank you for sharing her

The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
34 posted 2006-03-29 10:27 PM




Thank you for readng her Dixie.


JL
Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128
Texas, USA
35 posted 2006-03-30 12:49 PM


Excellent!
Enjoyed, to the max.

JL


Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
36 posted 2006-03-30 06:50 AM


Saffire?...The Uppity Blues woman?....interesting and clever write...
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
37 posted 2006-03-30 03:54 PM



Not actually about Saffire, the blues group, but if it reminds you I'm glad. Thanks Toerag.

"It takes a mighty good man."

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #37 » uppity woman blues

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary