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Mirror Mirror

Submitted by Esker on Sat, 2016-10-15 15:00

photo shopping
my tummies too thick
my pecs too weak
Might tweak it up
just a smidge
shrink my beak
Smudge out my
grey and enlarge
my eyes
blur out the wrinkles
and improve my
thighs
Almost done
dye my hair
with the sweep
of the screen
Im a digital
marvel on the
hook-up
scene
Paint in teeth
handsome
smile
post now
wait for all
whose seen
the celli's
ring!

..

Editing stage: 
Editing - rough draft

Comments

BettyBuff

Sun, 2016-10-16 02:07

BettyBuff's picture

Hello!
This modern obsession with the visual; My daughter's generation are obsessed with their looks. The amount of pampering & preening before a 'selfie' shot is laughable.
Recently, I took my daughter & boyfriend out for dinner...she spent several minutes, snapping away, trying to get the 'perfect' pic of her plate of food, her eating the food, the ambiance, etc., etc.,
Also, back in the day when I was dating (in middle-age...it's a nightmare)...the amount of photoshopped pics was limited....however, the use of pics from 10-15 years ago was prevalent....so one got a shock when one's date arrived, looking a bit 'careworn' shall we say?
Can't decide what's worse...an out of date but historically accurate visage....or a 'perfected' one.
Am I detecting a subtle change of style in your writing?...some of the lexis rhymes! LOL
Ells :)

jane210660

Sun, 2016-10-16 06:36

jane210660's picture
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That boyfriend of your daughters - I think he's a bit dodgy :-) Jxx

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Esker

Mon, 2016-10-17 08:08

Esker's picture

Thanks Ells! all my travels I knew people that could recite poetry lyrics dance..juggle..
super talents...half of them just bopped it off...they were on some other missions..
trite was important to this talent....but fun...like fireworks or magic in my mind...
The peice was fun..the break from the usual dark stain of obsession and Love....
the Steppie was doing all this...just following along the other birds in flight..or fish
social swarm...Like wolves howl...even if You are not in a pack...(most consist of ten)
U still howl!!! being bright and young and beautiful she related...had humor...
a thinker not a stinker and we would rib each other...But of course ultimately I would
compliment her or advise if too much..or too little and social status of events she
attended..help her decide clothes....(she asked) and the mom bought me like
Purple Velveteen Dress Shirts from the mens habberdashery store (sic sp)
This is funny because her cousin..another little woman..style and kick ass..bought
my buddy..her man..More handsome but a cement head...ha ha...Ah he just needs
experience....twenty years younger then me and the steppie is 22 this year....but
both ..no all happening people! anyway the cousin bought him a sharp looking
purple shirt too...The color of Rebels! All for the shot though! We had Polaroids
thirty five mils and photo huts....I look like the dude from that 70's show! Chong
who works the Hut.....Steppie took a lot of fun pics too though....and the food and
clothes stuff....Documentation is in! My gen..Gen x or Bunnies...guess Im too old
started this wave of Youngsters! its a digital world!!

author comment

jane210660

Sun, 2016-10-16 06:35

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Lol, I'll send you over some of my pics to doctor :-)
Love this Mr E
Jxx

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Esker

Mon, 2016-10-17 08:28

Esker's picture

omg.....today people send EVERYTHING..
horror and hilarious..and frightening
the land of stalkers bullies and plain
weird...
Funny cause the old days you could get
the professional work done....airbrushed
highlighted...many of the studio photos
all faded with time now that you see
at yard sales or from our own families
were pretty altered....
And the digital media today is pretty
High Def so more the work...
"The world is a stage"
gotta get my ass in gear
I got a bit part today
lugging food bank food home
for my woman!

thank U!

author comment

Esker

Sun, 2016-10-16 10:44

Esker's picture

Im from the mid eighties...(when I last had a true real date) the rest were
grab and run deals..Me being grabbed...some deal....cash work time
food roof then cast out again....after years...But we have looks that last only
for a spell...If we are not careful and non caring they can get even more
skewed with abuse of everything till we are the caricature of our very
weaknesses....

I was laughing at memory...was trying to get into the bathroom here...
now I can...the lighting ..the mirror..Used to be taken up by the steppie
a brilliant and beautiful and complete alpha who took no shit...had
haters galore...We got a digital just before she arrived from the other
fam members...I was trying to take photos for the then brand new Facebook
and like U say....Only had the 35 mil prints when I had all my teeth...looked
much fatter..wore crappy clothes..When I had no style...No "look"
second floor window faced west over the couch...large window...afternoon
setting sun..Perfect lighting....Steppie arrives says.."Wtf are U doing?"
with a laugh and I explained lighting..how it showed the eyes softened
the shade and edging most suffer with in taking poor photos...But I took
photography and I take great portraits of people....
Before long with the digital she was snapping and perfecting her "look"
Never ended up snapping shots of her...She wanted total control of
her material...years later she realized I take great photos but Im like
"no no...U control your visuals"
She showed me instagram...snapchat..tinder..tumbler...the mom got
me into the other sites Im big on...we can post photos there..poetry
a social scene....
She took photos of her meals....clothes...and spent the hours working
on new makeup...clothes....shes subtle about her make up though
no cats eye which looks okay...she doesnt need that...
but hours....yes! always the phones...the duck faces..
my photos are ten years almost out of date...
this one is modern but not a close up...glasses on
I spend hours pulling all the white hairs from my moustache
sideburns head and beard....otherwise it would be full
salt and pepper.....I hate the old dog face look
the grey muzzle....gotta let that go soon though...

U can photoshoppe...the wealthy get face lifts..hair
implants or weaves...shove themselves into the gym
cosmetic to fill in acne scars like I got...Chin implants
or other...I can use a chin implant....nose work
replace the two upper missing teeth beside both
canines...Non fighting..no fall took them out..
removed a back tooth and the shift pressure
in sleep....just shoved them loose..
grind my teeth..

I do like that people meet today with nothing
but old photos......Im me...I have all photos
of my recent enough face...
but Ive heard of people meeting in coffee
shops and being taken by the suprise
and horror...ha ha ha...

its a digital world!

thank U!

author comment

Candlewitch

Sun, 2016-10-16 11:33

Candlewitch's picture
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all that commitment to looking "Fantastic!" is just too much work. besides that...I'm lazy! what you see is what you get!

always, Cat
p.s.
good work..it made me think...

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And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

Esker

Mon, 2016-10-17 08:13

Esker's picture

cut in front of this dude long ago at food bank
he was nice..Just said..hold on a moment..
the line up starts here...didnt get pissy about
it or righteous....thats why I knew he was cool
had two of his ladies on his arm
small hard tourist town on Georgian Bay
He had long black hair..beard....rings..
earrings....Dyed goatee beard
and hair..maybe eyebrows
but I could tell his clothes even
and his women..they all put in time
to look good....Presentable
and they carried themselves
with class beyond what the obvious
station in life called for...
why I liked him and his girls...

at the time I made fun of him
the dyed hair the whole work
for the look
But here I am thirty years later
after that time and Im doing
exactly the same
well I copied a lot of his look

The salt and pepper look is
good for me
I just chose and refuse to
wear it
vanity is all...ego...
when I do just let it grow
in it will be like Ba Bam!

I do like people that have
natural hair....
what you see IS what U get
and that is an attractable
qaulity

Thank U!

author comment

Geezer

Sun, 2016-10-16 18:50

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I see a lot of younger people doing selfies and I am as amazed as you are about the time and effort that goes into them. Like you, I don't have many pics of myself from the present. The ones that are from now are the ones that are taken by someone else! I must admit, the thought of being able to take pictures of myself in the most flattering of poses, light and settings is somewhat tempting. But, I don't have anybody to impress. My wife accepts me as I am and remembers me as I was! What else is there? Thanks for sharing, ~ Gee.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Esker

Mon, 2016-10-17 08:20

Esker's picture

School Day...
or High School..remember the old silhouette of
people "Picture Unavailable"
my one girlfriend had a yearbook..missing picture
off doing something else...
but I found her in the photos of people they put in
here and there in the collective
There she is head stuck out of a portable window
talking to one of her female friends
I laughed and laughed..she never noticed all
the years!...then twenty from High almost
or less...

Picture day!
but to the kids its so important
how they get dates....get asked
into this and that
most popular

the dark side is the bullying
how the internet and cyber
makes it easy to manipulate
the process and appear
innocent...how the social
scene packs up run by the
leader.....like any street
thug gang there is always
the leader....why when I
dealt with the bullies thats
the first one you take out
Or pick off the minions
till only the best too deal
with is left! I know cause
the kid had a lot of haters
along the way.....

but back to the photos and
presentable selves...

we vaunt the stars...
and idols of spotlight
and the nerd machines
help us to do this
but not eliminate
Our photo booth in
the mall still keeps
going! Fun still
exists...

Bunni and I talk about
weight and aging and
want to stay young
and we sure are young
at heart!
but we do accept each
other as we look today
like U say with your
woman!

Thank U!

author comment

Sparrow

Sun, 2016-10-16 19:05

Sparrow's picture
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There you go wanting to brush out those great imperfections that make you, WHY??
You have made that figure of a man that you show to the world in person, that you can write and tell us many things, that may be truth or what, is secondary..
My friend there in between the lines you write, is a history true, a gentle soul that wants to shout and some times does but not to do harm to any man.
I love the Wolf as he is and he is welcome in my house for always..
Yours, Ian..

.
Give critique to help keep Neopoet great.
Unconditional love to you all.
"Learn to love yourself first"
Yours as always, Ian.T, Sparrow, and Yenti

Esker

Mon, 2016-10-17 08:20

Esker's picture

thank U Ian!

author comment

valene

Sun, 2016-10-16 23:21

Yes I want to look good when I go to work, go out with friends, go shopping, etc...but I'm to the point where I don't give a damn if the gray hairs are coming thru, i actually like them and have gotten random compliments on how natural they appear. As far as have wrinkles I guess they're going to stay cos i've tried injections on some areas on my face, but they really didn't do much, cost a bloody fortune, and hurt like bloody hell! AND to make matters worse, they don't even last...so what's the point. My mom had a facelift and I thought it made her look almost mean when she smiled. Now I have to admit she and I didn't have the greatest mom/daughter relationship before the lift so maybe i was seeing the 'mean look' cos of that, but I don't think 'twas worth the money. Long story short, as trite as this sounds, if a person is good on the inside, their outer appearance isn't as important to me. On the other hand, if they don't bath/shower and smell, or they haven't washed their hair over a period of time and it's obvious, in other words don't care about their cleanliness, then that's a turn off! Your poem was an easy, fun read, with good descriptive words, and good flow. It made me chuckle cos i could visual all the primping people go thru to make themselves look good on the outside when in fact they might be rotten on the in.

val

Esker

Mon, 2016-10-17 08:25

Esker's picture

a practical and realist...(and if poet a dreamer too)
gee Val I relate a lot to You!
takes awhile to see past the Pretty!
it is what it is...
and yes the stinky smelly
just dont care
gave up somewhere
every animal bathes to some
extent but man....

we are the oddest creatures

if I won money I would
do cosmetic
I amped up my clothing style
which is a good thing
but altering your body is
another....
I just said..God wanted
this..and worked with
it not against it

I wanted brown eyes
so I would look more
Ojibway..more native
but many say
Oh no...the Grey eyes
are beautiful
so I keep em
no contacts
Lines...wrinkles give
character..
my mom was mean
at times...face lifts
here and there or not
she had the money
her hubby new adored
her...

people that like me
are not into the outer
appearance

your right!
whats inside matters most
the heart!
of the Matter..

gotta run to the food
bank and lug all this home
for Bunni!

thank You Val!

author comment

valene

Wed, 2016-10-19 12:39

I do believe we're very much in agreement here! How we look is not necessarily who we are. I do me best to take care of how I look out in public, but it's really more for me to feel good about me and not to impress those around. Grey eyes are more intriguing! Mine are blue but not that deep blue, and tend to change with colors, I wear so no contacts needed....except maybe for sight but tried them twice for that and hated them....1st pair just didn't work & 2nd hurt like bloody hell...so I'm sticking to the good old fashioned way of glasses and I'm totally fine! And you can find some pretty funking fun ones that fit your moods! Long story short, we need to learn to be content with our outer being cos it's the inner one that counts!

you're welcome and thank you! hope you got home from the food bank safely and Bunni enjoyed her food!

Esker

Thu, 2016-10-20 09:57

Esker's picture

I only walked with the pretties and the driven!
and dads were all hustlers of one variety
or other..or connected..
Like attracts like....I enjoyed the streetsters
a more jovial and darker world they lived
the women certianly were more angular
paler...put more into the look..and the
gansta type men....cars..the look also

but...I ended up being an ear when I
worked bars or was driving for the
family....put a car under me...I was a
careful and good driver...because I
sat behind the wheel I always made
sure the mechanical of anything I got
into was decent....same with systems
which was what I did for "work"
why build a ship and let rats run it!
Teach was born to run his crew..
the bright and driven tend to be able
to take charge when rough weather
hits.....babblers not needed...
steady hands....of which the girls are..
and when push comes to shove so am
I...just bred into me! I had to look
many parts during my tenure with the
family...suits...tuxedos at the wedding
certian watchs...certian leather jackets
sunglasses..brand of shirts...shoes
(deck shoes...akin to Sperry Topsiders)
that was the boating phase...
Ties for court appearances..
say a lot sometimes and keep yer mouth
shut other times...
I have had quite the life...and it still is
evolving....if the bike rolls in..the car..
van..truck..Im off on a tour and back..
(as was this spring)
Lately now that Im comfortable in the
close the girls chose for me rather then
I chose for myself Im blending the look
and style that is welcome from other
top men and the pretty women who are
doing the hustle out there...
Purple Velveteen shirt today..fashion
torn pants...brand name...belt with
buckle...long black thugster..gansta
social mafio look...long hair kept washed
goatee sideburns and tinted california
style aviator shades....Bling rings..
wrist chain.....U get a certian respect
then just ragged worn track pants
some Low Key jacket...

I wanted brown eyes for a time
and tanned much...the native in me
I get really dark! which I enjoy...
I like being exotic...the ladies I dated
loved the voice and the eyes..
I can be a charming devil..and
im bright enough and articulate
enough...and Ive worked crowds forever
what I used to do in the top end
vacation bars.....threading ideas
in abstractions and ideals like
my poetry here...
or paintings which they collected
including the poetry and writings
tacked on the fridges of the
most interesting homes and work

But inside....

if one is not settled on the inside
then all the outside will be wind
static unhappiness uglinesss
restlessness and bullying

my black rimmed cheap glasses
the steppie likes..got her BF to wear
his and a sweater.....prep look
Ivy League...
well the second last one..
got a miner now...mr brilliant
owns buildings....good fam
treat her well..with respect
something missing in todays
world...
Inner respect I have finally
something I had to work for
of course...

Food bank people because
Im polite and patient
and thankful...they treat me
well...sometimes slipping
in favors here and there...

I have never tried contacts
I like glasses....I use my periphery
vision much....had too
had to be aware of everything
back in the day and even
today...the old rules still
are there..like Intuition

Thank U....this poem was written
in tongue in cheek but its also
relevant to the work done today..

I spent hours watching fifties etiquette
because Im totally into the nuke stuff
fall out shelters...that glorious and
troubled times of north america...
sociology I enjoy!

we are enjoying our food!
again..
thank U Valene!

author comment

lovedly

Mon, 2016-10-17 19:58

lovedly's picture

which fool has taken this snaps
I smiled but he continued
the one who took this
will never be poor
I laughed he smiled
he advised take
a snap once every twenty minutes
after ten snaps go over and delete all except one

now have 8000 to score off
no selfies i abhor

Esker

Thu, 2016-10-20 10:03

Esker's picture

I had to read them...
part of what I did
the rest I was groomed by
the best..
I took and take photos too
a natural talent like writing
painting and other

man is visual...if we can
see..if not then we hear
if we are deaf and blind
then other senses...
smell..touch...sense..
intelligence and communication
but pictures hold so much
they have always been
dear to many
frozen glimpse in time

thank U!

author comment

Jasmine.

Mon, 2016-10-24 21:10

Jasmine.'s picture

I am not a - shamed to admit, vanity thy name is Annie, who the hell is Annie you ask? Me of course. Always loved the name Jasmine lol......
Getting old sucks and I will not go without a fight! Now the picture thing, hate to have my picture taken, not now or have every been photogenic! I clean up ok, I am who I am, but as far as growing old gracefully, hell no!

Almost forgot to say, love the poem!!

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