Thursday, May 30, 2013

Mag 170 — Smokin' Ponytail

Ponytail by Last Exit


A sweet circular society:
"sisters" together handling
an event in mock piety —
the initiation candling.

To the tune of a famous anthem
their official song rang out.
The walls of the inner sanctum
protected their secret hideout.

The new girls each had an elder guide
who had been through this before.
Helping proceed, each stood beside —
(considered it her own encore).

A single white candle was then passed
with care from one "sis" to next.
But Deeanna was soon aghast
as her elder stood pale and vexed.

Deeanna was not watching the flame —
(had less grace than a Clydesdale).
As elder spoke Dee's secret name
she set fire to elder's ponytail.

Her elder's encore went up in smoke
she lost an inch from the tip —
then her hair was doused by girl folk.
In punch it had taken a dip.

The truth is the event made the day —
although it did bring a tear.
The elder forgave: ("It's okay")
But Dee was no groupie, I fear. 


Written for The Mag: Mag 170 that inspired with the above image prompt.

{This is based on an episode in my college years. I never joined a sorority, but was voted into a sophomore women's service group that was comprised predominantly of sorority girls.....}
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8 comments:

Don't Feed The Pixies said...

we don't really have sororities here - although i do seem to recall something on the news about a visiting one from the USA trying to go round schools and teach them values of virtue etc

About the closest I came to this was the Cub Scouts - which was mostly about getting as many badges on your arm as humanly possible. Really, looking back, it was a pseudo religious organization as you used to have to go to flag carrying services (probably the last time i went to church other than funerals and weddings)

still - i like the idea of the accidental loss of the ponytail and i think it fits well with the image - which does look like smoke from some angles

Leovi said...

An awesome poem! Lydia, if you want you can choose a picture of me to make a poem. Greetings.

Anonymous said...

This is so intriguing to me! I have never been in a sorority I was married when I started college (I got married young) and I wasn't social besides so this is a mysterious world to me! Love it =)

Lydia said...

Pixies~ I never thought about sororities' and fraternities' existence outside the U.S. In fact, I hardly have thought about them being in the U.S.! It just was not a world I was interested in, and this service group was a close-enough look at what I stayed away from otherwise!

Leovi~ Thank you! I hope to do that sometime, and if I do I will let you know when it is posted. :) Your work is so amazing.

mindlovemisery~ See my comment above to Pixies. It is a mysterious world to me, too. Gotta wonder if it is still as popular as it once was.
Wasn't aware until yesterday that you also host a writing prompt, but could not tell which day you post it. Will check back to see (although I find it hard to keep up with the writing prompts that I already join!).

kj said...

lydia, i think this is hilarious!

it has a rhythm to it that is perfect for the punch.

hahahahaha. and it ends in forgiveness. even more hilarious.

oh the smell of burnt hair.....

love
kj

Tess Kincaid said...

Straight from my Girl Scout days...

Lydia said...

kj~ It's a simple little poem and I'm glad it made you laugh. I accomplished what I set out to do!

Tess~ Interesting....I was also a Girl Scout but I did not think of times in the troop in relation to this scene. But you are right, it is like Girl Scouts!

Helena said...

That was cleverly penned! A unique prompt write. Well done!

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