The Gossip Girls
Have you seen the way she dresses?
Half slut, half bag lady.
And always with one dangling earring,
one post. Is that a gay thing?
Well, she does march in the parades.
And all that gay rights nonsense and
on and on about the homeless.
Her husband is a saint to put up with her.
If I talked that way and dressed
like a tramp, my husband would
slap some sense into me, and I’d
have it coming.
Mine would, too.
I miss the old days when we knew
what was what and who we were
supposed to be… oh, wait, sssssh…
she’s coming.
“Morning, ladies, how’s everything
with you today?”
“Fiiiiiiine.” Butter wouldn’t melt
in their mouths.
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Kim Nelson wanted poems on gossip at Poets United – check out the link and read some other poets as well. Poets U. is a wellspring of talent. Also “in the margins” at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.
PROCESS NOTES: As Alice Roosevelt Longworth said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say about others… come sit next to me.” I abhor gossips, quite possibly because I am the subject of same in some circles. Such is life lived out loud! Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
“Such is life lived out loud” is a terrific line. I too hate gossips.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Viv. I share your disdain of gossips… obviously!
annotating60
This was an interesting insight.>KB
Polly Robinson
Well-penned, Amy, so accurate – the two-faced ness coming through in the final lines – marvellous 🙂
dreamingthruthetwilight
East or West , gossips are clothed in the same feather…could easily have been someone in South India 🙂 Insecurity, jealousy, envy, wishful thinking, regret for how things are in their own lives…could be any or all of these reasons that make them indulge in this past-time. They need our sympathies really,
Sharp Little Pencil
You are so right – gossip is universal. I’ll bet even aliens on other planets gossip… “Did you see the thronk hanging off Byzyk’s fontralobe? I mean, it should see the trogmess right away!” Ha ha. Amy
coalblack
Oh, you captured their mean and teeny little minds.
Sharp Little Pencil
Reminds me of Kids In The Hall: “I pity you… and I squish your head!” You know when people you dislike are across the room and you can site them between thumb and forefinger… ha ha Thanks
ManicDdaily
Well, people get very bored, I think! Your dialogue has a great and quick lilt that feels very natural. Thanks, Amy. k.
brian miller
ha. fine…is such a terrible word…we use it far too casually…its so lukewarm to me….gossips in general, blech…..have little use for them…
Mary
Unfortunately some people have nothing much happening in their own lives that they spend time gossiping about the lives of others. I really appreciated your insights here, Amy. It is absolutely NOT fun to be the one gossiped about.
El Guapo
Sometimes it’s nice to go out of ones way to give the gossips something to talk about.
Hehehe
The Transcanada Poet
I am sorry to say both genders gossip…great post
loved these lines…
I miss the old days when we knew
what was what and who we were
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh, Amy, you have nailed EXACTLY that self-satisfied tone some women take when gossiping about someone. “Her husband is a saint.” Ha. You nailed it, kiddo.
Susan
Amy, I thought I had commented on this wonderful expose of women who hold on to certainty at the expense of themselves..but here I go again: We have made some progress in not having to explain what the poem is about. I hope some of these gossips are testing the waters for a different response–that they overcome fear and jealousy with curiosity.
Kerry O'Connor
Yep! Sounds about how such a conversational situation would go.
ρöετις
I think people gossip out of a deep seated jealousy or secret feeling of admiration that they mask in contempt to hide their feelings about themselves of being somehow envious and inadequate compared to the person about whom they gossip. If someone gossips about you that just means you’re doing something right!!
grapeling
that is a GREAT close, Amy
Jae Rose
People with nothing important to say..hard to ignore..and it hurts..but friends know what’s real..and send love x
Sara v
Amy, so easy to judge others–thank you for calling them (whoever “they” are) out. We gotta get away from the “us vs. them” we are all in this together–Love Sara
moondustwriter
doesn’t change over the years does it??
nicely written
Lulu Sunthal
I like how your poem was from the view of one of the gossipers. It makes us really think and decide who we want to be. Often when people read a story, they support the protagonist, but the protagonist isn’t always the good guy.
On another note, would you be interested in trading links? I’m looking for poetry blogs to link to and from blog. You can let me know through email if you’d like. Thank you. 🙂
Heaven (@ScarletVerses)
Yikes on those mean words and gossiping ~ Good one Amy ~
Lisa A.Williams
Gossip is such a waste of time and says so much more about the ones doing it than who they are talking about. Excellent job describing this nasty habit.
I HAVE A VOICE
Grateful that I personally don’t know or associate with such pitiful vessels of unhappiness ~ Cute portrayal ! Hope you’re feeling better dear friend ~ Faithfully Debbie
Suzy
I could truly picture that. Some people thrive on gossip. Loved the ending.
dropping by from the Verse First prompt.
Kim Nelson
You pegged the nature and behavior of gossip with this one Amy. I suppose we all know these people. In fact, few if any of us have avoided being these people. We must learn to grow beyond it, release the temptation to judge. I wonder… if they saw themselves in a magic mirror, would they recognize the truth?