the epitome of the "perfect" wife
Everyone always wants to be different. We aim for individuality and originality. But in both my Creative Writing and English classes I've been getting the assignment to read a poem or short story, and then copy the style.
Wanting my OWN voice to be heard, I was reserved to this teaching style. Yet, after having to imitate my fourth poet, I was finally able to flip the light switch and I realized the significance of all of this.
By writing in another author's style, our teachers are hoping that we embody the spirit of the author and the mindset.
My latest assignment was to read the prose poem, "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid. It basically outlined the rules that girls inevitably live by. Don't wear slutty clothes. Eat in a lady like fashion. Walk in a lady like fashion...you get the idea
Us students were asked to lay out the rules and regulations for a social circle we might fit into.
I chose "Perfectionist". Not because I'm a perfectionist but because my mother is one.
and without any further ado...my poem
Wake up exactly an hour before you need to leave; not a minute before and certainly not a minute after. Head straight to the bathroom don’t stop to make any detours like watching the news or checking your email. You should have designated a specific time slot for those kinds of events. Fix your makeup and fix your hair. How many times do I have to tell you that the back of your head should not be neglected when fixing your hair? Clean up the bathroom and shut off the lights. Eat breakfast. Pack lunch. Contemplate what you want for dinner. I do not want to see shrugged shoulders and furrowed brows when I ask you what you are in the mood for tonight. Always do your work directly after coming home. Always write down what you have to do in priority order. This is how you color code your closet and this is how you arrange your closet according to what season it is. Right now its mid winter so you put all your sweaters and pants up front like so while you store the airy tops and short shorts in the back like this. This is how you clean a window. This is how you polish a fork. This is how you sort the laundry; fold the laundry; iron the jeans; iron the delicates, like silk and chiffon. Pay close attention here, because I am about to teach you how to make a hospital corner when making the bed. Don’t forget to make the pillows perfectly symmetrical to each other. Please let that stain be a figment of my imagination. This is why you need to plan ahead and think of a backup outfit just in case anything goes wrong. This is why I tell you to buy a shirt only if you can think of three pairs of pants that you will wear it with. This is how you set the table. Fold the napkins in triangles; never in squares. It goes salad fork, dinner fork on the left and the soup spoon and the knife on the right. The glass is about three centimeters from the tip of the knife. Where did I learn this? Nowhere really, I just think that this setup makes the best presentation. This is how you write a proper thank you note. Do not use the word “funner.” It’s “more fun” and it’s not me and my friend went to the movies; its my friend and I. This is how you spell necessary; n-e-c-e-s-s-a-r-y. I know that one always gave me trouble as well, and this is how you spell perfectionist; m-e.
- Hope everyone has enjoyed!
Also...here are some links to some of the "perfectionist" things I mentioned in the poem like How to Properly Set Your Table
