A Lady

On certain Saturdays her apartment
was where lessons were held
on how to be a lady.

The finest of ladies
-serves tea.
         Imaginary flavored tea,
         always after checkers,
         right before lunch.
She was the finest of ladies.

A fashionable lady
-finds a reason
to perpetually wear pearls,
blue dresses, and fuzzy pink slippers
-always keeps her hair swirled
in aged angel white curls.
She was a fashionable lady.

A cultured lady
-knows how to concoct
elaborate dishes,
         like chocolate pudding mixed
         with whipped cream
-reads literature like War and Peace
         and The Chubby Puppy.
She was a cultured lady.

The most elegant of ladies
-sits with poise, grace, and composure
         chooses only a quilted
         guest room bed or rocking chair
         as a place to repose.
-never speaks with anything
but a soft voice,
         laughter, or love.
She was the most elegant of ladies.

A perfect lady
-keeps everything in its rightful place.
         Fuzzy bee puppets, plastic beads,
         and paper towel flowers should
         be stored in black alligator boxes.
-has a plan for every dire situation.
         Only jotted down prayers
         in a Pringles can will do.
-knows how to care for children
         in the most
         great-grandmotherest of ways.
She was a perfect lady.

On special Saturdays,
I learned lessons
on how to be a lady.