how to age gracefully
LJ idol week 20: open topic
When I am a mad old woman,
I will cover the walls with writing,
recording the whisperings of my books
that rise like an inky smoke from the shelves.
Words will splash the walls
and though the landlord will try to paint over them,
those fables and fairytales will still glow through.
The neighborhood children will hear the whispers,
dare each other to pick the peonies from the witch's garden
that are supposed to grant wishes.
They will tremble on my porch
and, if caught, they will sit straight and silent
until I offer them a slice of lavender-honey pie.
When I am a mad old woman,
I will speak to my cat,
howl at the dark of the moon,
spit snakes when I am angry.
I will not go quietly,
will insist on wearing tempestuous colors
and sternly tell people that my wrinkles
are character lines.
Shouting,
my false teeth making escapes
from time to time.
When I am a mad old woman,
I will curl into armchairs
with books older than I -
seeking the company of elder witches.
My love affairs with libraries
will be legendary.
I will make them uncomfortable
with my ravings about how
I was young and lovely once too,
a cloud of dark hair kept shaved
and brown eyes that turned a violent violet
in passionate moments.
When I am a mad old woman,
I will not stop living.
There will be a garden of stories
growing on my body -
spring inks and shades of winter loss.
My skin will speak to them
long after my lips have stopped moving.
They will be unable to frighten me
into a polite grandmother's silence.
♥ pacing while praying ♥ you are beautiful ♥ digging for buried crap ♥ we should all be narcissists ♥ ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbl̩ ♥ juicy memories ♥ relax. breathe. bupkis. ♥ a gypsy heart ♥ a month of rain ♥ up is the new down ♥ your words, her silences ♥ ground rules for a hairless housemate ♥ the smell of particleboard in the morning ♥ from an aspiring spinster ♥ scarves & sweaters & shawls ♥ on emotional idiocy ♥ fairytale-maker ♥ betrayal by choice ♥