Oh my how <br />red cock struts <br /> <br />(thinks he's a sultan) <br /> <br />striding in and out among <br />his harem scarum hens <br /> <br />talking to themselves <br />like some <br />lost senile sentimental souls <br /> <br />foolish fowl <br /> <br />they lay eggs for gentlemen <br />and kids on long hot summer <br />holidays <br /> <br />they hide their eggs like <br />broken hearts <br /> <br />like old love <br />letter secrets <br /> <br />safe in unseen <br />places. <br /> <br />But see Auntie Nellie <br />willy nilly as a fox <br /> <br />stalk the chickens <br />and expose them <br /> <br />cruell as the NEWS OF THE WORLD. <br /> <br />See her raid the haystacks <br />(back seat of the old car) <br />rain rusting machinery <br /> <br />her apron pregnant <br />and precious with <br /> <br />the warm and brown <br />gift of eggs. <br /> <br />Red Cock crows <br />loud against the morning marigolds <br /> <br />while children's voices <br />babble sleepily <br />into wide awakefulness <br /> <br />love letter secrets <br />staining their lips <br /> <br />sad valentines <br />for breakfast. <br /> <br />******* <br /> <br />SEAMS? NAY, ‘TIS NOT SEAMS MADAM...IT IS! (for Auntie Nellie) <br /> <br />My hand trembling <br />trying to keep a straight face <br /> <br />drawing a seam <br />down the back of each of my Auntie’s legs <br /> <br />“Keep it straight…keep it straight! ” <br />she’d shriek <br /> <br />(giggle as it tickled) <br /> <br />I became quite an expert <br />at it. <br /> <br />Looking over her shoulder <br />coquettishly <br /> <br />her heavily mascaraed eyes <br />eying my handiwork <br />in the mottled mirror. <br /> <br />Her mouth <br />a perfect pout <br /> <br />a thread of crimson <br />squealing: <br /> <br />“Good man…good man <br />my lovely little man! ” <br /> <br />“Perfect job! ” <br /> <br />And then off we go <br />to Church
