The Choker

Queens of Ancient Egypt wore them, Chokers around their necks Signs of protection and power Mygrandmother's choker was slim black velvet With a tiny silver brooch across the throb of her throat A throwback to her early courting days Companion to her planter uncle's daughter She had a certain position to upkeep I wore hers out in my teens Till it was threadbare, A relic of my grandmother turned thin Now chokers are all the rage Katy Perry, Taylor Swift The Goths, Victoriana revivalists Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna Trans gender men, Jagger & Elvis Fake royalty of screen and Hollywood stage Degas' ballerinas wore them well Chokers…the other end of the spectrum from the garrotte