You get up fashionably early
because you have so much to do
and there’s never enough time
to match your busy schedule
this time you don’t
take the extra time
to prepare yourself
to meet the day
your clothes have already been selected
the night before
this time you are your own consultant
your outfit laid out
by your own hands
carefully understated
to show your individuality
but not too much
to intrude
and of course your shoes
from your vast collection
designed for notice
the perfect complement
drawing just enough attention
as you walk comfortably
through the day of your life
you briefly touch
the photograph of you
those well-spent days of college
when you further learned to be yourself
and how the world belonged to you
selectively
your graduating upper class
which has it all
the comfort of knowing
you are where you belong not needing
even to see anyone
who does not
you chuckle with the appropriate
self-restraint
no need to laugh aloud
you eschew ostentation
remembering your mother’s mother
was from the corset days
so fashionably past
you go downstairs arrayed
you sip the coffee you could have brewed yourself
you have the skill
you gather up your purse
you told the chauffeur to take the day off
you’ll drive yourself
because you can
you enjoy the feel
of controlling the wheel
rolling over the smooth roads
you always travel to avoid
seeing any other world but yours
so many choices demand upon your time
the need to order them
the spa to keep the body
sound to balance the mind
and the nails
maybe a touch up
and the hair to verify coiffure
so much to do
exhausting
and luncheon with the girls waiting
until next time because
and tomorrow tennis and lunch at the club
you’re oh so busy the caterers
to proffer samples for your approbation
so many details silverware and china
table linen
crystal glasses to raise with the perfect stem
and the curated infusion
accommodating vintage experts
hovering your approval
so much you have to arrange
the endless puzzle of the seating chart
who should never be next to
or across from and the clear view
of the stage or dais or rostrum
present or installable so many things
to decide your day so full
those endless hours of sorting out
the circle from the world you needn’t know
you practice raising the little finger
deciding if it’s just too much
you sigh to catch your busy breath
already you’ve tired yourself
briefly looking toward the night of well-earned rest
the ancillary possibility of giving in once more
you know your duty as a wife but now
you’re meeting with the photographers
who work collaboratively with the media
to let the world know
you’ve done it yet again
and should you slightly change
the spelling of your name
to show your creative individuality
how exhausting it is to be you
to shoulder the burden of never
having time enough
to spend your too much money
so much to do to fill your day
you work so hard at choices
to avoid a world you never knew
and at least at night
you’ve earned the sleep
to close your eyes
sleep mask ready
so you never need to see the dark