Rosemary Norman
Millie’s Party
If, on my way to the door, a
phrase stops me and I stand
with a hand on the radio
till the passage ends;
if I have almost left
but there is a run of notes
that must be listened out,
it will not matter; she never
leaves her chair, never
fails, early or late, to be
expecting someone younger.
This is Ron, her nephew,
young like me; white jeans
and blue earstud, blue on tan,
blue as his shirt, blue
as the sky’s opaque blue
behind his pewter hair.
Sundays he brings Guinness
and jellied eels, although
she can’t finish the bottle off
these days; so what is it
to her, who else he loves?
Aunt Millie gives us a song,
handing the innuendo out
like a veteran artiste at
half her age; like one more
tray of vivid drinks,
spiked and we know it:
I’ll be up your flue next week.
She’s ninety-nine, says Ron
to no-one, everyone. Write it
99. It’s two ears, both
on the left side of a head.
Page(s) 47
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