Mary Fooley

To Mrs. Mary Fooley - Though I don't know you, I see you

Practicing vanity 

On my graveyard shift 

Shift into perspective 

The needs of beauty 

And the wants of eternal youth

A headstone of truth 

Etched with names of women 

Long gone 

Mary Fooley

Carved in stone 

The year of her passing 

Centuries ago 

I wonder if she was a great beauty 

As I curl my lashes in my car 

Many fooling

Mary Fooley

Because my lips are not red 

And my skin not porcelain

How I pinch my cheeks

Blushing at the burn

What I would do to be remembered 

Not for my words 

Nor my thoughts 

But for the face that will melt away

When it is my time to pass

Turning to ash 

Scattered upon the open sea 

As I have requested 

I fear I won’t be remembered

Because I am not known now 

As I live and breathe

 

Mary, I’m the fool 

For wishing photos to tell my stories

Hiding my journals in the attic 

Afraid that they may find out 

My thoughts were dark and brazen

Rough and dry 

My face dewy and white 

Pink and soft 

Mary Fooley 

I’ll remember you just for the memory 

Of working the graveyard shift 

Plumping my lips 

Etching my words

For no one to see

Hoping to be seen

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I loved the complete poem.
"For wishing photos to tell my stories
Hiding my journals in the attic
Afraid that they may find out
My thoughts were dark and brazen
Rough and dry
My face dewy and white
Pink and soft"
The above lines. So good and thank you for sharing the entertaining poetry.
Coyote