Compliance.
So let the grand masquerade start.
Now locked safely away,
restricted and mute is her duly subdued heart,
neatly boxed,
disciplined,
strongly tied
and nicely presented to show whole compliance.
Her own pictured hopes deleted by duty she lays
dreaming aside,
and decides to accede.
With reality not in the way the play can proceed.
All seems accomplished, she bows to demand,
or request, face set,
made-up mask hardened into a smile she folds
away dreams
and stands almost reliably ready.
The world will see only a token of what she feels
in an acceptable show.
Done now and dusted, tranformance complete,
she will enter
to give an unflagging muted performance of brave
yet substitute love.
Staging then set she emerges for her rehearsed
but challenging part,
and submissive, begins her well learnt behaviour.
Yet never seen because bleeding and caged
deep inside,
is the beaten remains of a life daily sacrificed
in striving to please.
So need a housewife's masquerade start ?
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: August 8th, 2018 02:51
- Comment from author about the poem: In this modern era of equal opportunities I wonder how many women are like the one depicted in the image - - and does trying to cope with wearing two hats make for better solutions to career and home-life - - just a question that needs some attention when numbers of divorces are rising yearly. Hope you enjoy the read.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 37
Offline)
Comments6
A fine write Fay. For one thing, if both parents work, they have to cover childminder, nursery costs, etc too. So it backfires on them a bit.
Then annoying things like:
'This job requires 110% output from you' (impossible).
'Must be able to multi-task (maybe at the same time, which is impossible again. Can only do one thing at a time).
'Working hours are 8.30am to 6.30pm.' (Hardly worth going home. I shall bring my camp-bed in to work).
A fine and instructive comment on this tricky subject - - thanks for sharing your thoughts Orchi.
I read your poem and then your comments.
I did not think it was about a housewife in particular until the end.
I thought it could be about any woman denied the opportunity to be her soul self. You captured the sad notion of folding away dreams which I often wonder about. How many people settle.
I read an article the other day that the notion of 'the one' destroys marriages. I guess it is much easier now to explore finding 'the one'
In my younger years perhaps this was my dream. It is not now. It is just to be able to be me without interrogation or derision.
I get out my dream when my husband is not watching.
I pack it away carefully when he returns.
Oh I wear many many hats. I'm not sure id give any up... Except perhaps 'wife' but that is easier said than done.
Hmm. Some reflection prompted here. Thanks Fay 💜
Sincere thanks for this carefully composed comment dear Sylvia - - the subject has many faces to explore but I chose the one of a housewife who especially in former times was no more than a silent slave in many households and had to put dreams far away to keep sane, Times change and the problem arises now where women are often loaded with career and keeping home together. - I raise my hat to those who can do both with contentment.
An amazing write and read. There's always more than what is shown at the surface! Love it.
Bless you for seeing beyond the few lines written dear Kat.
Is this lady now trapped by circumstance to continue? Love for those children spurs her onto conformity. What lesson does her sacrifice unknowingly teach?
On the face of it, so unfair, but ... so few facts upon which to make such a judgement.
A really needling thought provoking jab at married conformity today Fay.
Ah - you spotted the jab at conformity which was the crux of my poem - -- expectations are slow to change as in the positions within households but the transformation is well on its way. Women have won a place in the world which includes more than compliance to keeping house - but the load proves heavy for most. Thanks so much for opening other avenues of this tricky subject.
WOW FAY ~ This frightens me (don't let Angela read it !) is this really how many Housewives (in the 20th C actually comply & suffer & feel ? I've never been married so I can't speak from personal experience. Angela & I (now we are engaged) share all things and decisions. It is hard for me ANGELA being in NZ for Year (at least) but we both agreed that it was an opportunity not to be missed ! Knowing something about NZ I was happy for her to go knowing she would be both SAFE & FAITHFUL as I would be in the UK ~ because we are both committed Christians ~ AMEN. My Parents are also committed Christians and their Marriage is based on Love and a 50/50 responsibility. My MUM is a Confectioner so she still baked lots of Cakes and baked and made Cakes for all occasions ~ so in effect she was able to raise a Family and maintain her trade. When we were all at School ~ My Dad was happy for her to do two days a week in a local Bakery. My DAD still does a lot in the HOME and only works (Newspaper Man) part time. When I'm married I want to be just like my DAD ~ AMEN ~ Thanks for caring ~ Yours as always ~ Your FRIEND BRIAN ! PS. Angela loves my Dad and tells me I'm just like HIM !
Thanks for an honest comment again dear Brian on the subject of married contentment for both parties - -- the world has enlarged now for most married women and many have found emancipation a little confusing. Loads come heavy when juggling with career and keeping family provided with house and home etc............. these are a mere few of the issues facing modern woman and need to be faced and addressed but times change attitudes and sharing is vital for relationships to survive with dignity to both. Blessings to you as take your long journey of happy reunion with your lady in red.......... !!
Some read Fay - and I read it twice which is rare for me as there so many posted at the moment.
Thanks for the double read Mike - - wonder how the subject struck you as a male - -- times change attitudes but often so slowly that there are still countless numbers who wither behind curtains and doors - -- children all flown and stuck in the mold of compliance life for such housewives can be so lonely - - this piece touches on only a few of the issues around emancipation.
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