Retail Therapy

Yesterday I found myself slumped
into the saddest of trenches,
for no particular reason
other than a new moon cycle.
Instead of flopping myself
in my studio’s armchair to write,
I drove to the mall for an outing 
probably more expensive than 
what a therapist would charge
for an hour in his armchair. 

I wandered into the shoe store—
something about leather 
which grounds me, whether
the flimsy strapless heels 
or the closed-toed pumps or walkers. 

Already lugging two bags, I meander
into the lingerie store for silk 
to accentuate my only remaining 
middle-age curves, skipping over the thongs
and hesitating at the push-up section.

I try on four or five pairs of underwear
to accentuate my butt area,
the part of a woman which shares the 
secret of her fitness, that I work on 
each morning at seven.

I arrive at the boutique who sells my favorite 
blouses, gather some more bags, walking out
with an almost terminal case of rope burn,
until I finally decide it’s time to head back to my car. 
On my way I stop, smile, and realize 
there’s no better way to fight trench warfare.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2006


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Date: 10/6/2008 10:48:00 AM
Oh yes, can identify with this well written verse immensely. Congratulations on your well deserved featured write of the week. Love, Shar
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Date: 10/6/2008 7:42:00 AM
Congratulations Diana on "Retail Therapy" being featured this week on Poetry Soup. I can still hear the guy in the Graduate telling Dustin Hoffman "Plastic", and I'm thinking how dangerous that is when it's in my wallet. God Bless. Vince
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Date: 10/6/2008 5:28:00 AM
Diana - Very interesting poem - Leaves a feller with a lot to think about - congrats on being featured and God Bless
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Date: 10/5/2008 5:55:00 PM
A lot of us will indentify with this one! ~Enjoyed reading!! ~ Carrie
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Date: 10/5/2008 4:53:00 PM
Thank you for allowing me to smile with this one. Nice use of humor. Congratulations on having your poem featured. Keep on writing! Karen
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