Kit Kelen #835 - a draft of she

835

a draft of she

who had supernatural powers

who knew what Christmas wanted

what naughtiness was/was not

who said 'when your father gets home'

she who was a step ahead

could spell every word before you

and we could add things up together

who could hear a joint being rolled a suburb away

she of preternatural olfaction

prognosticator of clouds

whose grandfather was a particular greatness

founder, benefactor

hems up

took in, let out

she of the sewing machine

now of the blank empty stare

who was always ahead of the game

eyes ears

and in the garden

drawn by dog

or round the block

who never swam

not in my life

who loafed around in a stain

and blamed the beach for glare

she of the early hours

and the Sunday sleep in

pancakes too

of roses and thornstuck

of the broken glass through thong

in the high grass should have been mown

and in the surgery waiting, with blood

and me there, with the needle, run off

and later so patient, having been told

no one could see I'd been done

she of wise saws, melodious snatches

and lyrics lost

first among princesses once

pyjama selector - o intimate of mine

she of the magical inklings

of infinite understanding

knower of pains

font of remedies

Mercurochrome she

of the great household health crises

blood poisoning

and tomaine

she of the tribe survived

depression minded

suspicious milk was watered

snow droppers or anyone

could strip your line

who'd never trust a tradesman

she of the locks changed later

and again and again

of the will re-written

she with the evil solicitor

of the secret hysterectomy

of mercy mild once

and Irish inwardly

who sent me to the Church of England scripture

so as to avoid persecution

of growing pains detected

of 'you'll grow out of it'

'never tell anyone your private business'

whose head was full of paintings

but she gave it all away

for me, for us

as if for a cause

who could burn water

whose pizza was secretly given the dog

and someone caught redhanded

she of the Sarah Lea Black Forest reputation

and cigarettes given up

just like that

she

of mustn't excite the heart-attack uncle

of the fish fingers, chips

of the steak

and freezer full

she, one of us, once

and the story still telling

she never missed the Scotch

her brothers brought each year for tribute

till one Christmas they asked for a drink

she

whose eyes were before all others

whose soul was yours once

hers your unbelief

she

helpless

who forsakes me now

whom from once nothing could ever be hidden

all safe

safe with her

to be here

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