Shine On Pearly Moons (Poetry)

I no longer ask —
seek permission to
wear her strings of pearls
or her rhinestone brooch
with the matching clips

These were all the rage
inbetween the wars
cheap enough for her
born working-class-poor
not silver-spoon-rich

The dazzle of paste
glitzy bravura
following fashion
dressed up to the nines
a diva of style

My childhood in awe
of her jangling
armfuls of bangles
the swish of long beads
ears dangling light

Though dead forty years
her baubles shine on
I try them for size
the Charleston evoked
her racy swan song