Itsby, bitsy spider went up the bedroom wall where two ladies sleep ... |
Twin Girls? You Say My cup, your saucer, our tea My hat, your scarf Our days out carefree. Your TV show, my book My hair curlers, your mirror We take a long look. My boot, your shoe, our socks Your piano, my harp, music rocks. My headache, your champagne Steps to the door Wobbling along Seldom forlorn. I roll over while you snore Day after day, A shilling per week Cameras we greet, People to meet God-awful walks, feet unsure Street by street. They stare, We glare So what? Yes, we are rare. Two heads, three legs, four arms Joined at the hip, dear sister Sssh, sleep quiet Move over. The hand God dealt Shaky times ahead Limbs entwine on a bumpy bed Walking about, going out One ankle now with a blister. A spider crawls along the wall. Oh please smack it Since you are so tall. Hands, of course, only four. You betcha, mister. Quiet nights, bustling days Filled with prayers Stories shared Carresing sun's healing rays Who'd ask for anything more? For my dear, dear sister. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> SEAMSTRESS SHOPPE by Teff, a poem from The May & Gwin Series. <> <> <> <> <> SEAMSTRESS SHOPPE May so nervous before the sun is up. I pull up shades, turn signs to Open For our Seamstress Shoppe. "No one will come in, I'm sure of it." "Now May,"says Gwin. "If we bet, I'll win." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> So we wait all day and half the night. Sleep beneath stars so bright. Maybe next day will be better. May so negative, can't fight with her. This only makes her madder. Her thoughts cause my tum to growl. To cheer each other, We go out for lunch, Eat plate after plate of Chinese chow. Finally! Week two: Bolts of wool laid end to end. Dusted all, shop so tidy Needle to pin. When to our surprise three customers come in. Ask if we're identical twins. Siamese we answer in unison. May starts to blush up to her chin. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> TRIPLETS May's long skirt, my bolero cape Hides us as we measure the trio Nape to stern. When will we learn? May, pins in her lips, spits, "Gwin, you do the hems." Daydreaming, cloudy, watching her work. "Gwen," she tells me, tape in capable hand. "Here, bend down, get this unruly hem." So we turn them about, the three of them. Young men all born on the same day. Who went out of their way To give Seamstress Shoppe a bit of a boost. Such handsome men, on the world turned loose. Morn to midnight we cut and baste. May rolls a hot iron on every seam. I foot peddle wool through The rusty sewing machine. Dawn of Week Three: The triplets we see Marching deeply, knee to knee. They crowd in our tiny, cramped space. Greet May with a randy smile on her face. We kid about, treat them To a splendid high tea. May decked out, fit for the Queen, Exactly like me. Gwin, you're bonkers, May winks at me. Flirting our kisters Off with the three. Shameless tarts, silly sisters. So at last, they change into Brand new duds. Navy serge suits With pirate's ruffled shirt cuffs. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> SILK PAJAMAS We hated to bid them farewell By then we knew they'd be back On the Tuesday at noon To take us out, to Squirrel us about On their muscular arms. Up and down, London town To buy silk for lounge wear. And damask for smoking jackets. What a gas! All along we savor As we line Up our playing cards For the field of battle A few options in our favor. Who can resist my way with a hem? Or hot scones made by my sister, May On a blustery winter day? Seamstress Shoppe Proprietors then Our status grown to business women. May insists on buying champagne On our next walk amid quaint shops To celebrate our tailor orders. Late that night, we boast, Counting money we made. Pincushions aside, scissors down, To our futures we toast Looking forward to Rendezvous time, happy as pie Designing in our mind's eye Those fated, fancy silk purr-jammers. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> The original May & Gwin poems are based on characters in my completed novel, written, c-rite ... Mar 2000 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll BROTHERS May on the stoop, me on the step Waiting for three brothers. Screen swung, lock the door, No more bumping into hanging Tux just my luck to bump into more Swaying gala gowns, merely turning around inside Seamstress Shoppe. Then bugger all smiles for the Brothers Who drive up in a Limo Stroll right out, lift us up Sprits and Gwin and May Tucked safely inside to be swept away Oh, Gwin, Oh May Is this really the day? We keep our date with these handsome men Who came right up to the shoppe To take us out To eat Chinese, We the only Siamese In the country, the Uk In Surrey, I say Out & about, almost twice A week with the birth thrice dashing Malloy Brothers. Leroy, Roy and Troy Malloy Handle us well, so they tell All far and wide, met at the gate Of each palace we ate Arms blended in haste With liver paste Crackers, chips, fish, fowl Oh May enjoyed the time and how. Days when we are wined and dined Make us think, we are free Falling in love, with crown of a top hat, With perfect jokes that blend, Tums girdled in, to look right flat Course after course, then the toast. From our smooth hosts, To five happy children, born on two Different days to different women. Oh, US. The beleaguered Five, Watch the famous Five by camera lens. We move about, shawls to the floor Scarves swirl. Forever airs of heirs Who bob and weave, sleeve touching sleeve Smile sky high, eyes so blue and wide Can never hide the kisses we endure, Lip after lip, hip to hip Oh, those pesky, divine, Brothers. Wink! March 5, 2005 T Teffom
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