Poem: "To Attend a Ball"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is the linkback perk poem for the October 2, 2012 Poetry Fishbowl.  brides_koneko hosted it here during the fishbowl.  Linkers include: brides_koneko, aldersprig, marina_bonomi, rix_scaedu, janetmiles, DW user jjhunter, catsittingstill, mdlbear

This poem belongs to the series The Steamsmith, and you can find the other poems via the Serial Poetry page.  It also fills the "Ball/Dance/Prom" square on my first Cottoncandy_bingo card.

Comments

[thnidu]

Very nice! -- although something went slight awry in the armature of the (most welcome*) footnote:

1) phos ...

*

[thnidu]

Because while the Doctor† is on familiar speaking terms with a great many roots, including φῶς, he has never studied alchemy of our history, much less that of the Steamsmiths.

Fixed!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Thanks for catching this.

Re: Fixed!

[thnidu]

(tips hat)

Urk! Somebody's Law applies here: I left the "-ly" off "slightly" (and can't put it in because somebody [me] has replied to the comment). Oh, well. I have more important things to do, like cuddle the cat, keep her off the keyboard, and get myself into bed.

[janetmiles]

Aw, good for Maryam. And good for her father, for teaching her useful lessons.

[siege]

There are always too many boys, and not enough gentlemen. It nearly always pays to fill the empty role.

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That is often true, and Maryam is good at it. People who focus on social roles as performative tend to like her very much. People who take a more generative approach tend to sulk over all the ways she doesn't fit what the nature of a gentleman is "supposed" to be. I am endlessly intrigued by this contrast.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I have found her father to be a fascinating guide in how to be a gentleman.

[mdlbear]

A tip of the top-hat -- I enjoyed this a lot.

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yes, Maryam is good at that. She is a gentleman's gentleman, genderbent classbent racebent status notwithstanding. It's kind of the reverse of the trope where the white dude goes into some native culture and outdoes the locals at their own game.

[technoshaman]

Way to go Maryam! Show'em how it's done, and show'em up!

Hmmmmm. The duke and duchess have gilded calling cards. The butler's is plain (that he has one is interesting!)...

Reckon what Maryam's looks like, and also what a gentleman, of some status but with no title, would give out?

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Way to go Maryam! Show'em how it's done, and show'em up! <<

She is good at that.

>> Hmmmmm. The duke and duchess have gilded calling cards. <<

The fancier ones are typical of nobility or other rich people.

>> The butler's is plain (that he has one is interesting!)... <<

Pretty much anyone who can afford these things has them. A butler is the head of the male household belowstairs, and this one's serving in a high house, so within his own circle of acquaintances he's probably a popular fellow. Usually he'd network servant-to-servant, though.

I suddenly have to wonder if he clocked Maryam as being socially bifocal, rather than just meaning "Give this to your man so he can make arrangements with me regarding your appearances."

>> Reckon what Maryam's looks like, and also what a gentleman, of some status but with no title, would give out? ... )