Continuing my journey through poetry inspired by Taylor Swift’s folklore album. You can read the previous piece for “cardigan” here.
Evenings At Holiday House
Of course, they want to blame me.
As if the fool didn’t already drink himself
silly and overindulge on the pudding at dinner
every night. They’re just jealous of all the fun
we had. Fun! They wouldn’t know it if it bit
them in the behind. They could learn a thing
or two about loosening up. You only live once
after all.Maybe he went to an early grave, but he was
well on his way before I showed up. It’s just
always easier to blame ruin on the woman with no shame.
Shame! What good did it ever do anyone? I have no regrets.
I had a marvelous time.
If you’ve listened to the album, then you know this piece comes from “the last great american dynasty” track.
The voice of the song’s persona is so much fun to begin with, so I found it easy to tell the story from her perspective. In my head, I hear a woman with a classic Transatlantic accent like in old movies. She’s brash and unabashed, taking total pleasure and joy in living life. She is everything society doesn’t want women to be.
She makes sure to hold her late husband accountable for his own behaviors that led to his downfall. She comments on how society always blames women for a man’s ruin. It made me think of the story of Adam and Even I grew up with being raised Catholic. To me, it always felt like the basis religion uses to justify patriarchy and controlling women. Because women out of control will ultimately lead to damnation.
The persona in this poem also feels no shame over her joy and pleasure. These are things women are often condemned for. But she celebrates having fun and having no regrets. She wants to live life to the fullest, especially seeing how short it can be.
Thanks for following along! Leave comments and let me know what you think.