I managed to guess who the poet was, but that's because I recently watched the documentary about her. The famous stars like Viola Davis and etc read out excerpts of her diary, letters and etc. It was surprising to see how much depth and beauty are captured in her words. Surprising because, like many, I only saw the beauty that was Marilyn Monroe and not the soul of Norma Jeane.
Beautiful post and tribute to a most misunderstood woman and star.
It must've been an odd relationship from what I read. What a change in life for both of them, I wonder if they ever contacted each other after the early days.
Thanks Rosy, it's a credit to her how famous she still is all these decades later. As a mid-thirties guy, there's not too many stars of that era I'm familiar with.
I think the reason Marilyn's allure was far more transcendent than, say, Jayne Mansfield's, is because she exuded something that struck our souls--though we couldn't put a name on it.
I was a teenager when Marilyn's picture first appeared on a fan magazine, and even then I was transfixed. When she was dismissed as a lightweight, a terrible actress, a tramp, I stayed quiet, not wanting anyone to know that this girl who knew nothing about life saw something in her that went beyond her photos or her fame.
I admit I cringed at her acting. There was never a time when I could remove the actress from the character, but she was luminous on screen. She had 'it'.
She wanted so much to be considered something beyond a bombshell, and her efforts to become more cerebral seemed courageous at the time. I've always felt she married Arthur Miller for his ability to teach her the things she ached to know. In time, he let her down, too.
Marrying Joe DiMaggio was a disaster. He demanded she change into something totally opposite of who she was, and I believe he gaslighted her.
Her poetry here is heartbreaking. She never found what she was looking for. She never got over feeling lonely.
I managed to guess who the poet was, but that's because I recently watched the documentary about her. The famous stars like Viola Davis and etc read out excerpts of her diary, letters and etc. It was surprising to see how much depth and beauty are captured in her words. Surprising because, like many, I only saw the beauty that was Marilyn Monroe and not the soul of Norma Jeane.
Beautiful post and tribute to a most misunderstood woman and star.
I had similar feelings the more I read about her!
She was a deeper person than she gets credit for being, and that's just sad.
Very much so
I wonder if she ever regretted leaving her first husband. Hard to imagine Marilyn Monroe as a housewife.
It must've been an odd relationship from what I read. What a change in life for both of them, I wonder if they ever contacted each other after the early days.
Fascinating piece, JJ. What a legend.
Thanks Rosy, it's a credit to her how famous she still is all these decades later. As a mid-thirties guy, there's not too many stars of that era I'm familiar with.
I think the reason Marilyn's allure was far more transcendent than, say, Jayne Mansfield's, is because she exuded something that struck our souls--though we couldn't put a name on it.
I was a teenager when Marilyn's picture first appeared on a fan magazine, and even then I was transfixed. When she was dismissed as a lightweight, a terrible actress, a tramp, I stayed quiet, not wanting anyone to know that this girl who knew nothing about life saw something in her that went beyond her photos or her fame.
I admit I cringed at her acting. There was never a time when I could remove the actress from the character, but she was luminous on screen. She had 'it'.
She wanted so much to be considered something beyond a bombshell, and her efforts to become more cerebral seemed courageous at the time. I've always felt she married Arthur Miller for his ability to teach her the things she ached to know. In time, he let her down, too.
Marrying Joe DiMaggio was a disaster. He demanded she change into something totally opposite of who she was, and I believe he gaslighted her.
Her poetry here is heartbreaking. She never found what she was looking for. She never got over feeling lonely.
Well said Ramona, she must've struggled with her demons far more than most knew at the time
Wow. I knew some of her history but didn’t know she was a poet!
Me neither before researching this piece!