Invisible

INVISIBLE

It gives one a curious feeling

To sort-of 'disappear',

As I did on a certain evening,

Earlier in the year.

I slipped away for a moment

And when I looked back it seemed

That the happy group I'd been part of

Was something I had dreamed.

The world went on without me,

No-one said 'Where has she gone?',

As though I had never existed,

As though I'd become 'Anon'.

What a salutory lesson

For an ego such as mine!

When I returned to the party

I took an extra gulp of wine!

*

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OUCH!

Don't be fooled by these gorgeous bustles!
Underneath the silk that rustles
In colourful swathes of red or beige
There's a horrible sort of metal cage
That keeps their rear-ends nicely rounded
And causes us to be dumbfounded.
Imagine! When one longs to settle
On a seat, a piece of metal
Pierces one's dainty derriere
And causes one to wince and swear!
But did they swear in those long-lost days?
Did they even know any fruity phrase?
Or did they merely smile sedately,
Still so ladylike, sweet and stately?
I bet they carried on a treat
When at last their outing was complete.
And when they reached some private place
They actually let themselves grimace!
When they'd stripped-off camisoles,
Corseting and folderoles;
When the flesh was on display
In a quite abandoned way,
Surely they had to scratch like mad!
And think of all the scars they had!
Where whalebones pressed they were all dented
And it couldn't be prevented!
In the park they looked so neat,
Straight-backed, elegant, and sweet.
Yet underneath chaos was reigning!
And not one lady was complaining!
It seems the men were all deceived!
'Seeing' could not be 'believed'!
When female bodies were revealed
And nothing any more concealed,
Did they look hang-dog and gape
Saying
'I preferred the other shape!'
*