RESOLVE TO GET INTO SHAPE

Just Joan

I joined the local gym last summer with that goal in mind.  I wanted to do water aerobics, so I bought a patterned racer-back swimsuit that promised to camouflage my (many) figure flaws.  My hopes were high, but everything else hung low.  Strangely, not one of my classmates seemed bothered by their own shape; they moved freely and joyfully around the pool.  They reminded me of my childhood self, playing in
the sprinkler in the navy blue bathing suit my aunt made for me, which inspired the following SHAPE poem.  Creating a shape poem involves arranging your words into a particular form on the page, thus adding
a visual component to your piece.
scan0002
AFTERNOON DELIGHT, which I posted last summer, is another example of a shape poem.  Add a little imagination and the sky’s the limit.

Have a comment?  Click HERE to share it!

24 thoughts on “RESOLVE TO GET INTO SHAPE”

    • Just Joan February 5, 2017 / 5:29 pm

      Things start to go seriously south in the 40’s–glad it made you laugh. Happy Sunday, Pranabaxom! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • pranabaxom February 6, 2017 / 3:42 pm

        Feeling the affect of gravity quite strongly now a days myself.

        Liked by 1 person

    • K E Garland February 5, 2017 / 8:53 pm

      This was my favorite line too lol My 90 year-old grandmother just told me to beware; my boobs will be long and flat and hang to my belly-button. I begged her to stop, but she insisted that it was info I needed to hear now lol

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
      • Just Joan February 5, 2017 / 9:31 pm

        Now, I am LOL! I was shopping for a card for a friend’s milestone birthday and found one that said “You’re 50, but you’ve still got it!” Inside it read “Look lower, you’ll see it.”

        Liked by 2 people

      • pranabaxom February 6, 2017 / 3:44 pm

        LoL.
        We pay the price of our sins of youth and rest is left to gravity.

        Liked by 2 people

      • K E Garland February 6, 2017 / 3:58 pm

        That is almost exactly what she said. If age don’t get you, then gravity will lol

        Liked by 2 people

  2. Aunt Marilyn February 5, 2017 / 2:21 pm

    Loved the “shape” poem and it brought back memories of when you and your sisters were little and came to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Talk about the ultimate recycle…a stretch pant leg for a child’s swimsuit! LOL

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan February 5, 2017 / 5:36 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it, maker of said swimsuit! Or maybe it was Aunt Carrie or both of you? One can feel beautiful in a pant leg or self-conscious in an expensive fitted suit, it is all in the state of mind. Have a lovely SuperBowl Sunday. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  3. Peter Klopp February 5, 2017 / 5:22 pm

    Superbly written poem, which describes your self-image split in two divided by some fifty years! The form of the poem perfectly fits the theme of your poem. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan February 5, 2017 / 5:43 pm

      Thanks, Peter. I like the halves, the mirror reflecting me at 5 and me at 50, how self image changes and how the clothes don’t necessarily make the man. If you feel beautiful, you ARE beautiful, that is really the bottom line. As always, I enjoyed your thoughtful comment. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    • Just Joan February 5, 2017 / 9:35 pm

      Thanks, KE. You can print it and hang it by your mirror during swimsuit season to remind you that YOU LOOK MAH-VELOUS! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. chevvy8 February 6, 2017 / 9:31 am

    This is brilliant Joan! I absolutely love it. I would love to try out a shape poem. Definitely well suited to your topic which apart from self image is also about perspective and attitude. I have plenty of hangups about my body and getting older. I so admire people who are able to embrace these and even flaunt them as assets. Great poem my dear! 💐💐

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan February 6, 2017 / 11:27 am

      Thanks, Chevvy. I think it would be fun to be five again, just for a day. To play and run and guzzle a whole glass of chocolate milk without worrying about what needs to be done, how klutzy I look, or how many calories I just consumed. To let the essential self have run of the joint, you know? That’s kind of what poetry does for me. If this inspires you to try a shape poem of your own, that would make me very happy indeed. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • chevvy8 February 6, 2017 / 12:08 pm

        Hey, what is stopping you – you just need to give yourself permission to not care for a day. It sounds like your lifestyle gives you the space to do that. Yes, I’ll let you know when I give it a try.😀

        Liked by 1 person

    • Just Joan February 6, 2017 / 3:51 pm

      Thanks, 227. There are many ways to approach poetry, as I aim to demonstrate here. That’s how I got hooked, and how I hope to hook as many others as possible. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. L. T. Garvin, Author February 9, 2017 / 9:20 pm

    This truly is brilliant, Joan! It speaks volumes. I see a young girl, happy in the moment, content with herself, I see how her attitude can be shaped by society as she grows older, the pressure to conform with almost impossible norms that are dictated to us by celebrity standards. The poem doubles as a work of art! It is difficult for me to find exercise time because of my work schedule combined with helping my 85-year-old mother. My goal was to look like Yazemeenah Rossi, but I’m not sure when I’m going to accomplish that, lol

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Just Joan February 10, 2017 / 12:02 am

      Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Lana. It never was about the suit. Wouldn’t it be great if you could take the confidence of your five-year-old self, bottle it, and uncork it when you turn 30 or 40? I’m never going to look like the water nymphs at the pool, I gave that up long ago. I have almost the same color hair as Yazemeenah Rossi though, does that count? 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • L. T. Garvin, Author February 10, 2017 / 12:42 pm

        That would be a great thing to bottle up for sure! I love the color of Yazemeenah’s hair, so it surely does count. I think my hair is too fine to wear that long, but I also like her carefree, flowing style 😀

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to L. T. Garvin, Author Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.