my mother at her mirror
me lying on her bed
watching
her lips pursing curling pouting
smiling
at the ruddy love stick
sliding across her face
tracing a perfect curve
her powder puff and compact
the finishing touches to her make over
one last inspection an angled glance
into a palm sized oval mirror
ready for the bus driver
You captured that private little moment beautifully. I could see your mother; I could see all of us women doing the same thing and imagining our thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! As I was reading this, I had visions of my own mother getting ready for work. Dressed in her crisp white nurses uniform, navy cape & nurses hat. I remember watching her put her lipstick on & thinking how glamorous she looked. Hoping that someday I too would be pretty like her.Thanks for bringing this memory out of the crevices of my mind!
ReplyDeleteYes a lovely piece, it took me down memory lane as well. A zen moment -- watching my mother--
ReplyDeleteJoanny
Even being old as dirt, I still put on lipstick when I go out. Not to flirt but to cover up the sagging lines. LOL. Blessings
ReplyDeleteQMM
you took me right back there...wonderfully written...
ReplyDelete...the ruddy love stick. Brilliant. That last sideways glance was just perfect.
ReplyDeleteSteve: How we do imprint the minute actions of our mothers in such simple everyday moments as they moved so slowly back then, when we were kids. These movements capsulated like a time machine of love. Lovely flashbacks, so tender and sweet! Reminds me of watching my mom the first art as we learn about how to "do" life right. I particularly like;
ReplyDelete"smiling
at the ruddy love stick".
A very pleasant and dreamlike recall of life through a child's eyes.
Enchanting, the awakening of memories. Lovely poem, nice use of the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThis brought me back to that place. Isn't it interesting how the image of her mother putting on lipstick stays in a little girl's memory forever.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely written, Steve! It paints a picture (pun not intended)!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly brought back my childhood and hours of lying on my mother's bed, entranced, as she prepared to go to work. Once she left, I'd sit at the dressing table and open all the lipsticks and jars and potions and gaze in awe, wondering when I'd finally have my own collection!
ReplyDeleteAh, memories. This is lovely!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful word picture, quite captivating.
ReplyDeleteChristine
Good job.
ReplyDeletepictured the visuals very easily.
rel
Oh I remember too... My mother only had one lipstick and that was red. She had a powder compact but nothing else. How life has changed! Thanks for the memories. Your poem is lovely.
ReplyDeleteStar
Perfect. The bus driver was an amazing last touch.
ReplyDeleteI am with you when reading it,
ReplyDeletevivid and neat!
http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/because-she-is-plain-magpie-tale/
ReplyDeletemy first one!
This was great! ...made me wonder what memories my children will have of me, watching that beauty routine.
ReplyDeleteThe bus driver at the end did it for me.
ReplyDeleteMy wife still makes me put on a clean t-shirt when we go to the supermarket!
Hahaha this reminded me of my mum getting ready to go out :D Very well done :)
ReplyDeleteMarinela
You can visit my page here:
Short Poems
Thank you x
Oh my, I did that this morning...for the pest man. All this time I thought I was becoming my mother and now it seems I'm becoming yours. Just gorgeous, Steve. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteReminiscent of many mothers and the children watched them.
ReplyDeleteHey Steve - look at all your lovely comments !!! Fantastic stuff. It is an enduring image isn't it...mothers at mirrors....always checking that they still exist....
ReplyDelete