Photo, Dee Bruce, Age 16, 1949 |
A young woman, bread
and butter smile, blonde
curls piled around her,
the same pose seen
from Norma Jean in the 40's
when no one knew who
she was. I look
at my mother now,
she is round and shrunken,
with worry lines carved
into her forehead. The woman
in the picture stands straight,
showing a lithe figure.
She is full of the radioactive
glow of youth. There are
no doubts curving her spine.
I could tell you what happened
to her, the children, the divorce,
the demeaning jobs; but I prefer
to think of her like this:
straight and unafraid,
defiant set of sexual taunt
in her heart-shaped face,
taut stomach, dangerous
in high heels.
copyright 2004
MC
Bruce |