bed head

often

when i'm feeling overwhelmed 

(or sometimes even if it's a little bit rainy)

i take to my bed. 

yesterday, i took to my bed. 

apparently, in irish culture, this is happens all the time. 

the playwright brendan behan's grandmother took to her bed for three whole years -- running the house from her four-poster bed, dressing for visitors, ordering in from the local pub -- 

and then, one day, just got up 

without excuse or explanation.  

and then there's brian wilson. 

and john & yoko. 

and my own phyllis prout -- forever looking spectacular in 

her wrapper (her words) -- 

she always had a place for me in the 

big bed 

piled with 

magazines & books & cigarettes 

and her old green phone.

maybe (like my pal stevie) i should bring back the bed jacket --

 at least i'll have a little glamour with 

my bed head.

or maybe not...

 "as children we 

all, 

every one of us,

 pretended the bed was a boat; 

so now, 

when we are so 

patently 

and persistently

 and daily 

at sea, 

why not seek 

a

 ship?" 

-- brian doyle

photos:

charlotte rampling:juergen teller

john & yoko: nico koster

renata boeck: slim aarons

audrey hepburn: everett collection/rex features

marilyn monroe: unknown