"Burnet"

Meaning: a dark-brown woolen cloth

Origin: Most likely French

Now term is basically obsolete, but now used more familiarly in reference to a particular herb of the rose family

(Merrian-Webster) dictionary reference

My Connection to this Word:

I grew up in the 1960's (6 yrs old-15 yrs old.) In the above photo, you can see the color and styles of clothing that girls in that age group were exposed to. This typifies the "getting ready to go back to school" look. Albeit, the fall colors match the occasion quite readily. My attention will be on the dark brown color, or "burnet" ones. Just add the word, wool to that, too!

What the Word Evokes in me:

Can you say scratchy? I still hate wool to this day. Can you say confined? All those buttons and belts and sleeves. (Except for the legs which were pretty much exposed to all the elements!) And which served to demand lady-like behavior...no summersaults or hanging upside down on the monkey bars!

BUT, back to the dark-brown color part of this evoking: Can you say shame? My mother always chose the browns for me to wear. She said that the color went well with my hair and eyes. (Brown hair and green eyes.) But I always knew that she chose the dark colors to make me appear "less chubby." I also knew that she thought being fat was repulsive. Even now, some sixty years later, I tear up thinking about this. I never shared this with her or anyone else up to now.

I also NEVER wear/wore any shade of brown now or in most of my entire adult life.

BUT when the 70's came, I said, "Hell yes! :

POEM:

I will not take your browns.

I don't care about your frowns!

I'll live my life in boldness and hide from no one...

I'll have my own story and have my day in the sun.

And that is just what I have done :)

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This was written for Penny Fuller's challenge and has brought me much healing by putting those emotions into print...