Looking at the front page of the blog, I realise that the last three posts are accompanied by pictures taken looking up at the sky, and I am reminded of a poem from my childhood.
The Rhyme of Dorothy Rose by Pauline Frances Camp starts with the line:
Dorothy Rose had a turned-up nose
That’s all I could remember of the poem, although I was clear about the story it told: rather than bemoaning her snub nose, the little girl decides to tilt her whole personality and attitude to match and becomes a delightful person because of it.
Of course ‘Google is your friend’ and the poem can be read in full on Google Books. The final verse reads:
Lastly her lips turned their corners up,
Brimming with smiles like a rosy cup.
Oh a charming child is Dorothy Rose,-
And it all began with a turned-up nose!
Perhaps the poem didn’t really warrant being remembered for going on fifty years, but it seems to be an interesting early example showing how physical posture affects attitude, and how your attitude affects how other people see you.
Mind you, the post do not adjust your screen points out that it’s not always better to look upwards if you want to get the best view.
don't confuse the narrator 
Enjoyed reading your post…posture not only affects attitudes but reflects what the person is feeling.
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Hi there!
When we’re down, I think we often let our posture reflect how we’re feeling instead of using it to help us improve our mood. By sitting up straighter and smiling, we can sometimes fool our own bodies/minds into thinking everything’s ok. (Or maybe I’m just easily conned!)
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I find that slouching, scowling and peering down at the last dregs of my beer produce the kind of thoughts and feelings I’m most comfortable with.
If you see somebody approaching you who’s “brimming with smiles like a rosy cup”, run. Run fast and far. They have something to sell or, worse, some revealed truth to share.
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When the glass is almost empty it deserves a smile – time for another one!
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If you’re paying, I’ll have a large brandy and ginger ale. Thanks!
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If the first glass had beer in it, you should stick with hops, not change to the vine.
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Thanks for referencing my great grandmother’s poem, The Rhyme of Dorothy Rose by Pauline Frances Camp. My great grandmother wrote volumes of poetry, mostly for children. The Rhyme of
Dorothy Rose, although short and to the point, is one of her more memorable poems simply because it is direct and has a clear and positive message. You can access many of her poems simply by googling Pauline Frances Camp. An online book of her poetry published in 1904 can be found by copying and pasting this link in your browser:
http://archive.org/stream/poems01camp#page/n5/mode/2up
I am from a family of 10 children and we all grew up in the large home that my great grandfather built for PFC as a wedding gift in 1886. In addition to writing poetry, she was a prolific artist. She painted large murals on the walls of her home that are still there today. Her favorite gifts to give to friends were smaller paintings, usually 8×10 or 11×17. Many of these paintings have survived and have been returned to the family.
My mother’s grandmother (PFC) died shortly before my parents married in 1939, so, none of my brothers or sisters ever knew her. However, she has always had a positive and profound influence in our lives because of the legacy she left in her poetry and her art, and from my mother’s memories of her.
I wish I had known PFC. She was described in one of my older cousin’s memoirs as being a delightful entertainer, and completely impractical. She loved to entertain, and was constantly surrounded by friends and family. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to reminisce.
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And *thanks* for sharing your reminiscences: your great grandmother sounds like quite a character.
I do often think of “Dorothy Rose” – it’s one of the poems that has stuck in my mind for half a century. There’s snow & ice underfoot today, so I shall have too watch my step, but I’ll try and keep my spirits tip-tilted upwards!
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