Friday 14 August 2009

It's Twenty Years Since I Dallied with Angus

my Aunty Morgan visits
on her way from her to there
salacious elocution
and a Paddington-type stare

she eats a home-made pastry
with her fingers held just so
I offer rancid butter
but her lips are pursed with 'no'

a single spoon of sugar
serves to sweeten her Darjeeling
but I only wish I had the chance
to sweeten her ill-feeling

she's almost ninety now, she says,
and not long for this earth
if I had Charon's number
I'd be booking her a berth

"Remember Angus Tavish?"
she said. "He wants a bride.
He would have married you and left
a fortune when he died."

at five o'clock she's homeward
and I stoop to kiss her ring
she never will forgive me
for that single Highland fling


18 comments:

aims said...

Ahhh - sounds exactly like my aunt!

Unknown said...

I've got one of those two, only she's not an aunt. Hmm.

I love this. Excellent.

Rachel Green said...

Thank you Steph :)

Unknown said...

This is great fun. Your aunt might be fun too, if it weren't for your one misdemeanor!

Rachel Green said...

Alas - All that could have been!

Nathan said...

Great way to weave the words. You've got such a strong sense for storytelling.

Rachel Green said...

Thank you - you're too kind!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. Fun and witty and easy to read. Well done.

Rachel Green said...

Thank you :)

Jessica said...

You used the words, rhymed, and created a funny portrait! I'm jealous. Great work.

Rachel Green said...

Jessica, you are too kind! Thank you!

rallentanda said...

I love this poem.It reminds me of Stevie Smith.For a minute I got
rather paranoid because of the amazing resemblance and the Paddington stare...but all's well...wrong country!

Rachel Green said...

Thank you!

I'm going to have to research Stevie Smith now - I'm ashamed to say I've never heard of them.

Anonymous said...

From Therese B. at RWP -- I like the strong rhythm and rhyme which make the poem sound like a Highland ballad of love won and lost.

Raven's Wing Poetry said...

I had an aunt like this to the 34th power. I enjoyed the read.

-Nicole

angie said...

"if I had Charon's number
I'd be booking her a berth"

if you find it, could you pass it along? I could use it, too.

haha--love this one! very funny.

Wayne Pitchko said...

hmmmmmmmmmm I think we all shared the same auntie

Rachel Green said...

Thank you all for dropping in :)