6th May 2018

morning heat
looking at the bluebells
in the shade

© Rachel Green 2018

subtlety was never her strong suit
but she excelled
in passive manipulation
and veiled insults.
"I couldn't wear that," she'd say,
"you're so brave to try."
She went through batches of friends
as they were welcomed, criticised and ostracised
over a period of months of years
and she'd pick the group leader,
or the wealthiest,
and attach herself to them,
the better to manipulate the group
and scream "unfair"
when she was called up on it.

© Rachel Green 2018