At five, lipstick was fun
Red, smearing my mouth, as I looked at myself in Mum’s mirror
Though I shouldn’t have jammed it back in its tube.
At fifteen, lipstick marked my no-longer childish face
So pale, nearly white, contrasted with the black round my eyes
All eyes and no mouth looked cool, or so I thought.
At twenty five, I wore no lipstick at all.
Long hair, bare feet, one with the folk,
At least, with those folk who sang in folk clubs.
At thirty five, I was altogether too feminist
To have any truck with make-up at all.
Though I dyed my very short hair pink.
At forty five, I applied for senior jobs
Which were more normally done by men.
I was advised, correctly, to wear lipstick. I bought some.
At fifty five, I discovered that I had become invisible;
Just another aging woman. But lipstick
And black on my eyebrows, makes me reappear.
If -
I so choose.
Postscript:
Not my decision I know
But what would I want the undertakers to do?
Of all my lipsticks what should they choose?
Not blood-red, I think, and surely not blue.
Ice-pink, perhaps, I wouldn’t refuse
On my lips when I go.
-
Author:
Morwenna (
Offline) - Published: August 16th, 2022 09:16
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 17
Offline)
Comments2
An impressive write Morwenna - -- the use lipstick makes to a changing life with a final stanza on choosing what shade could suit the finalé makes a really arresting read.
Thanks Fay! I wonder if some of it resonated with your life? It was fun to write.
Still don't understand.....
I can appreciate the fun, Morwenna, if not the sentiments.
But who am I to judge?....Too late, I have........
Don\'t understand? But you could always try a bit of lipstick, Dave, and see how it affects how people see you? I await the report. With interest....
Hi Morwenna - I've made a preemptive judgement on this very subject. I hope there are no hard feelings....
https://mypoeticside.com/show-poem-131405 ( "Lippy" - Page 3 of my back catalogue)
🙂🙂🙂
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