Mother? Norma Jean? Marilyn Monroe?

This is the way
you wanted to be remembered.

Elegant black dress,
sophisticated white pearls,
a radiant halo of hair,
blond as Marilyn Monroe’s.
Contacts, green as hundred dollar bills,
that draw men to your eyes.
Perpetually tanned, too,
like a Fifties’ movie star.
This photograph is more
head shot for Hollywood
than portrait for an obituary.

Sometimes we get the chance
to realize our dreams
before we lose touch with life.
We journey to Borneo,
purchase a Porsche,
or hang-glide off a cliff.
You prepared for death
by perfecting your image,
becoming your own press agent.
What were we to think,
when you handed us
the 8 x 10 color glossies?
All they were missing
was an autograph–
and any hint of cancer.

Despite your best orchestrations,
I will remember you
the way I have known you–
more Norma Jean than icon,
less distant, more mother.

– Scott Wiggerman

- Norma Jean was Marilyn Monroe’s real name before she became a movie star.

I screwed up my H2 Literature Mid Year because of the poem above.
Anyone would think that the poem was about Marilyn Monroe and the facade behind all that glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
But apparently, IT ISN’T!
Qixuan exasperatedly tried to explain to me the subject matter but I still don’t get it.
I’ll just wait for Mr Shankar to explain it to me.. Sigh..

Otherwise I think Im ok.
But then again, I think.
And I THOUGHT I interpreted the poem correctly also, so.. anything can happen.

Why didn’t I attempt the “Indian identity” question.
I could totally relate to it!
Ive done something so so similar before for my ‘O’ levels
Ambitious, my ambitious self..