PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

she was
a flashy New England freak by her own account
a discontent daughter of the woman's suffrage
movement
a natural daredevil who loved to clash
shocking the unshockable gave lava like life
to her very core
while dramatics lit her inner flair
she was a half and half feminist before her time
strong, athletic and forceful
brash and abrasive in personality
yet soft of heart and demeanor towards those
she loved
loyalty was her family's coat of arms
she was a jewel of feminine allure
while even wearing men s clothes
the tragic suicide of a cherished brother
shook the very beams of her foundation
and for a time marred her precious free spirit
yet she strove to overcome
and she surely lived the life she thought
he would be most proud of
his indomitable Katie
the real scrapper in the pack
and later 'The Thorned Lily' of Hollywood
who became a pariah almost over night
for standing up for her talent and refusing
to allow the movie moguls to mold her to
their will
she was a flame haired, freckled faced fiery
brand
even the eccentric Hughes tried to touch her
rare flame for a brief time
they understood each other at a dark, private
level
and she gave him some semblance of a real
life worth living for
the world gasped, gawked, guffawed and howled
as they pitched forth
while she acted, graced, lived, learned, loved
and gave so generously of herself
she gave the word living an all new meaning
and at her final tender curtain call
we all bitterly wept and grieved
for her quiet exit into light
but blessedly
she left behind beautiful glimpses of herself
her humor, her brave heart and adventurous spirit
via her extensive catalog of timeless movies
all lovely celluloid imagines that give an idea
of her back to us every time they are played
dear Katherine, you stole our hearts and our
laughter
but now, as you have made your journey and
gone on ahead
in your movies that you left behind
you somehow manage to give back as good as
you got
sometimes even better
and it's in those moments when we realize
just how much the world has always loved you
and ever always shall.............
(written Jan. 24, 2005 10pm)