I was the bane of my mother while growing up, I know she often wondered where did I get this child
I wanted to tell of childhood dreams of climbing crab apple trees fallen leaves and skinned knees swinging high and jumping over fences stick ball in the street, buck buck horse hand ball in the garage or park
Hours my mother spent trying hard to bring out the lady in me charm school, my first stockings patent leather shoes, matching pocket books Miss America pageant, hours I spent watching first make up, that awful pink lipstick earrings that dangled, and press on nails
finding out there is a middle ground that I can be both, tomboy in the day a lady at night, lip gloss in the sun earth tone lip balm, natural and sweet wore in the twilight, of evening trading in my fishing scent and jeans for juniper, vanilla scent and dresses of silk I guess we both won in the end she turned me into a lady in my heart leaving me still a tomboy in my soul
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Reviews of "Hidden Lady"
Reviewed by Douglas Arnold (Reader)
Reviewed on August 17, 2003
Now I am not going to talk about the content of this poem, I will leave that to others apart from to say that it is a beautiful gentle poem: humble. I want to talk about it as a lovely confrontation of stereotypes. If I look at myself escorting you to dinner, in that silk gown you describe. It is royal blue, very gainsborough I think, having spent the day fishing and climbing trees with you, I can escort you as one of the boys, in the same way that I want you to take me as one of the girls; so Sandrah Bullock I know, but let me explain further. I am an author and poet. I love flower arranging and painting landscapes in watercolour and my favourite medium, oil on canvas. It is the smell of course. At the same time I am a husband and a father of three: One Tomboy, one teenage all boy and one small boy, who loves poetry. I love a good bar fight and was a hooker up 'til two years ago, I am 49 now. Now before all you people on the other side of the pond who think football is that game in helmets, the object being to catch the ball without getting your manacure ruined: No I am talking football; real football, Rugby Football. I played hooker, (that is the guy in the middle of the scrummage, (fight), who's job is to hook the ball with your feet, whist being held off the ground by the other two forwards, (props), without getting your helmetless head kicked in, or the family inheretance damaged. Proper gentlemen of the sport wish one a warm welcome to the game, just down the side of the kneecap and down the front of ones shins, with the one inch studs of good old rugger boots. As a result I am a poet with a face that looks like a busted outhouse lantern, but I am enormously proud and fond of my large feminine side. You have a few lines that say much more than their whole here.You emancipate gender in a very loving and powerful way here. In other words, excellent poetry.
doug
Reviewed by Jaclynn Huntington (Reader)
Reviewed on August 13, 2003
{{{{{Cheryl}}}} Boy have you ever nailed this one. I can really relate. Except now I'm to the point of trying to find the lady in the old woman. Think she's hidden under a mass of wrinkles somewhere. Great write!
~Jackie~
Reviewed by Lady Peg (Reader)
Reviewed on August 13, 2003
This one settles so well in the soul.
"finding out there is a middle ground
that I can be both, tomboy in the day
a lady at night, lip gloss in the sun
earth tone lip balm, natural and sweet
wore in the twilight, of evening
trading in my fishing scent and jeans
for juniper, vanilla scent and dresses of silk
I guess we both won in the end
she turned me into a lady in my heart
leaving me still a tomboy in my soul"
PJ
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
doug
~Jackie~
"finding out there is a middle ground
that I can be both, tomboy in the day
a lady at night, lip gloss in the sun
earth tone lip balm, natural and sweet
wore in the twilight, of evening
trading in my fishing scent and jeans
for juniper, vanilla scent and dresses of silk
I guess we both won in the end
she turned me into a lady in my heart
leaving me still a tomboy in my soul"
PJ