Dirty Legs
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
February 14, 2021 1:45pm CST
My mother was so neat and clean
she hadn't yet turned thirty,
I was a child and did not know
why her legs were dirty.
She made a potion, stirred and mixed
just like a witches' brew
from gravy browning made a paste
then what d'you think she'd do?
She smeared that paste upon her legs
she thought that it looked great
then drew a black line down the back
and asked if it was straight.
I must explain the war was on,
to get new clothes was rare
but women didn't think it right
to have their legs quite bare.
So my sweet mother stained her legs
hoped they'd look like stockings
I can't believe that folk were fooled
I just thought them shocking.
On looking back I realise
how hard my mother tried
to keep herself and us all smart
I think of her with pride.
Photo is of my mother.
28 people like this
26 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
14 Feb 21
This reminds me of the stockings of our teachers when I was in my elementary years. The stockings had those black line at the back part. I was wondering what was its purpose. Was it to let the onlooker know that the lady was using stockings?
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
15 Feb 21
@sunrisefan It probably wasn't black, just darker than the rest.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
14 Feb 21
@jaboUK But why should it really be black when it could be the same color as the rest of the fabric?
4 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
14 Feb 21
@jaboUK I remember my mother and grandmother unravelling old pullovers and cardigans and knitting new ones.
Something else: Envelopes of letters were carefully opened, turned round, glued together again and used another time.
I grew up in the GDR (German Democratic Republic) where the economic situation was even worse than in West Germany.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
15 Feb 21
Lively picture and I am sure people did what they had to do in those days.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79731)
• United States
15 Feb 21
What a nice photo of your mom 
I loved your poem and it brought back stories my own mom told me about how women drew that line down the back of their legs to look like stockings. It's funny now to think of even wearing those types of stockings. We certainly have life so much easier than the women of the depression era.
I loved your poem and it brought back stories my own mom told me about how women drew that line down the back of their legs to look like stockings. It's funny now to think of even wearing those types of stockings. We certainly have life so much easier than the women of the depression era.1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
15 Feb 21
@Marilynda1225 You're right, they were very strong.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79731)
• United States
15 Feb 21
@jaboUK life was tougher but I also think our moms turned out to be strong women.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
17 Feb 21
I remember you sharing this before. I can't imagine doing that especially the line down the back but we've (as in humankind) have done the colored tanning solutions before too. I'm remembering coppertone. If it wasn't blended in correctly one could appear quite orange.
At least the brown might have looked more flesh colored or similar to wearing the dark brown hosiery which I liked to do when I was younger.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 21
@MarshaMusselman I only wrote the poem recently.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
17 Feb 21
@jaboUK I don't know that it was in as poem and it may have been on bubblews.
1 person likes this
@Laurakemunto (12862)
• Kenya
15 Feb 21
@jaboUk I must say mums are always amazing
2 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Feb 21
Beautiful photo of your Mom Jan clever poem.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Feb 21
@jaboUK
That´s okay its a reminder of the things our Mothers had to do.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
17 Feb 21
Your mom was an amazing woman and resourceful too!!
1 person likes this
