Theda Bara in Cleopatra 1917
From the dawn of time, women have been held hostage by the fantasies of weak, selfish men. Clothed in death and coerced into lassoing the moon for her milk, how can we ever consider wealth and fame as food for our souls? Or the price paid with batting false eyelashes, smiling capped teeth, on our backs, on our knees, bending over for a dream. Biting snake of the poppy soothes as it dances in our veins. Shiny sequins shiver over our clammy skin.
director yells wrap
goddess glides to limousine
shades mirror red sun
Carrie is the host of The Sunday Muse.
Tao Talk 
Truth!
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Good take Li
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Thank you, Sadje.
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My pleasure
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And for some it’s not as simple as “Wrap!”
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I see most anyone in the performing arts as individuals who willingly sacrifice their lives with a passion to please that is too often underappreciated by the audience. Thanks for reading and your comment, Ken.
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I’m scared to comment here! No I totally agree with you. Men found that sex sells and the exploitation started.
If I may say something extra…I saw Theda Bara and you know I love this era…there were women who kicked men’s ass in this era and did what they wanted to do…that was Mary Pickford and Clara Bow.
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LOL on being scared to comment. Max, it’s a symbiotic relationship where there are winners and losers. I think some don’t realize what they’re giving up until it’s too late.
I know you know about this era of actors and actresses and cool that you know Theda. Always happy to hear when celebrities can fly that close to the sun and not get burnt up. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
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I agree…they don’t know what they are getting into until it’s too late. Bow once said…”being a sex symbol is a heavy burden to carry” and she was talking about Marilyn Monroe… Monroe got chewed up and spit out and it was incredibly sad….so I agree totally.
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Did you hear there is a new MM movie out with Ana de Armas playing her? I heard that it’s all about her exploitation while ignoring anything that would turn her into a human being that people could feel empathy for. Business as usual!
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No I haven’t heard about it…but yes…that sounds about right. They don’t want the human being….they want the star…which is BS…
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Oooooooh, Lisa! This one does bite! Well done.
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Thanks, Helen!
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Powerful message, Lisa, great job! I loved your essential oils posts. You did a beautiful job. 🌞
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Thanks much, Lisa, and glad you liked the essential oils alphabet :)
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A powerful message here Lisa! I love this!
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Thanks much, Carrie!
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I was just thinking today about artists playing to their audiences instead of being the artists they planned to be, especially after a taste of fame. I was thinking visual art or writing but of course it applies to all the arts. (K)
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I think you’re right, it is beyond the performing artists. Any art form.
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The price of fame comes at great cost and many times great compromise! You have shared this very well. She definitely does not look very happy!
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Thanks a lot, Dwight. It’s like an unholy bargain is struck…
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Very often that is true!
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Wow, excellent Lisa — power to the truth. “Biting snake of the poppy soothes as it dances in our veins.” The outcome for many who sing, dance, act, or create for the pleasure of others.
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Thank you very much, Rob. I know you had a close-up view of this during your career as a musician and whatever else you did in the realm of celebrity.
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Lisa, there are parts of women things that I do not understand.
You’ve both helped me and confused me more, Thank you.
..
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Jim thank you for reading and your honest and diplomatic response :)
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Powerhouse of a haibun. The end haiku is superb.
Happy Sunday
much 💛love
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Thanks much, Gillena!
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This is evocative of the weight and ache of balancing the headress (in this specific case); presumably the stiffness lingers as the celebrity “skin” becomes more difficult to remove.
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Lovely comment, Wyndolynne.
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Beautifully constructed haibun, Lisa, even with the hard truth it contains. I stopped watching awards shows long ago for just this reason.
~Dora
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Dora, thank you. I’m sure many of them begin to feel like trick ponies after awhile, where they long to run free on the savannah.
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I think this more as I get older – you feel you want to put a big flag out to the younger generation, saying don’t fall for it!
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Marion, I think it is even worse now, with social media stars :(
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Totally agree Lisa. :(
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A though provoking piece indeed, Lisa.
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Thanks, Keith.
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Wow. This is cuttingly accurate and beautifully written. Some powerful lines, like this one:
“on our backs, on our knees, bending over for a dream.”
I’m glad you tell it like it is, Lisa. The woman’s jaded expression in the photo seems to express just that
<3
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Sunra, Thank You. I’m glad it speaks to you.
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