Relevance

She’s papering the walls
pondering former rooms
unmarked by her presence

Patterns alternate,
she thinks
then prays
will harmonize

She doesn’t need much –
a forever mantra  —

a bed, a chair for reading…

Contentment, she tells herself,
 the sufficiency of simplicity –

A side table, a lamp
a few drawers
 
A well-practiced diminishment
When did invisibility become her norm?

Sewing herself into the fabric of life
Always adapting to the flow

A stab of anger, or is it sorrow
These four walls her final stop

If she is to make a statement
raise her voice against conformity
the time is now

A slash of red, she decides
will rattle the monotony
render her relevant

At least this once.

(Sketch my own)

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VJ

Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

32 thoughts on “Relevance”

  1. Your poem really moved me, VJ. I love the whole internal dialogue going on here. Especially these couplets:

    “Contentment, she tells herself,
     the sufficiency of simplicity –”

    “A well-practiced diminishment
    When did invisibility become her norm?

    Sewing herself into the fabric of life
    Always adapting to the flow”

    🩷

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I’m glad to see more voices about this subject. Women have relevance but have denied themselves that truth for various reasons. May the next generations continue to evolve into more of a matriarchy than a patriarchy. Good lines, VJ! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. We keep doing it to ourselves over and over again. I am glad she’s decided to raise her voice.
    That slash of red at the end is a terrific end, VJ. It can be interpreted either way in this so relevant and resonant verse.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. very striking lines. my favorites were “pondering other rooms” “contentment, she tells herself” & “renders her relevant” (my apologies if I didn’t get these verbatim I wasn’t able to comment & reread on the same page) really beautiful work VJ

    Liked by 1 person

  12. “sewing herself into the fabric of life” – that’s exactly how it sometimes feels, not something I ever expected. I may have to go shopping for that red paint! I love this poem VJ, and your drawing.

    Liked by 2 people

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