The Rudest Line Ever Said
"Makeup can only do so much," Marco at Bendel's said,
when I went for my wedding consultation. He would "try."
To bulk up the fairy tale aura, he glued my turquoise-and-candlelight lids
with spidery lashes, and presto! piled on a braided hair piece,
a kind of hairy challah."
That's the first stanza of "No Make up"--a signature poem in Packing Light: New and Selected Poems, 2009. (You can also find it in Circe, After Hours, 2005).
Poetry is a kind of alchemy. The poet takes the blows of life and time and shapes them, sings them as the blues, ends up in laughter.
Sometimes it takes a few decades for the transformation to occur. But in the hands of a poet, it's all gold, even the lines that initially seem to be the worst manners in the world.
And by the way, that initial makeup consultation in 1970 cost about 300 dollars. I was in my early twenties.
"And now, at sixty, I love nakedness--in my face, and lines,
and in your hands, dear reader!"
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Kristen J. Tsetsi says:
Wow.
What an asshole.
(Sorry. That's the only word that accurately reflects what I'm thinking. It's not gratuitous profanity.)
Marilyn Kallet says:
Truly!
But that line became the opening salvo of a poem that later defined my vocation as a writer!
Evelyn Sharenov says:
Holy crap!
What a thing to say to anyone, let alone a bride. I hope Marco of Bendel's is wandering the gahenna. But you certainly made something beautiful out of a nasty start to your wedding day. I'm certain you were lovely then - just as you are now. What a thing to say to anyone, let alone a bride.
Marilyn Kallet says:
I know, I know! I was young, too.
But you're right, the line led to something important in my work.
Thanks for your encouragement! You're just wonderful.
Ellen R. Sheeley says:
Have to agree with the other
Have to agree with the other gals.
Isn't it odd how we remember the insults and forget all the compliments? Some comments truly sear.
Marilyn Kallet says:
It has long ago been turned into music!
This is what we do as writers, turn the messes into art! xoxo
Debra Dylan says:
Ugly Comments
THANK YOU for this this!
I feel much better now about my boyfriend's 21-year old son calling me a malignant cancer, with a puss-filled body, that he wishes there was a cure for. I shall turn this into art someday:)
BTW, hairy challah! Hilarious!
Marilyn Kallet says:
Dont wait
Turn it into art now. It's what we do!
I hope your boyfriend dealt with his son.
Peggy Landsman says:
What doesn't kill us makes us write!
Writers are fighters...
I always find that when I write from anger, it turns into something funny. Maybe the secret is that when we really look at the people dishing out the "slings and arrows,"they get very small, and smaller, and smaller....
Thanks again, Marilyn.
Best,
Peggy Landsman
Marilyn Kallet says:
yes yes yes!
Great line: "What doesn't kill us makes us write!" Hoo ha!
L'Shona Tova, Pegg!