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The Passing of Aunt Maud

Posted by Silver Spun Sand on November 1, 2009 - 19:27
from the ABC set Silver Spun Sand Poems

“The biggest bonus of being old –
one doesn’t lose sleep over niceties;
ladders in one’s stockings – clapping
at the wrong moment at a concert,
and so on and so forth. No, my child;
on informed analysis, life’s too short,”
so lectured Great Aunt Maud,
in between bites of sandwiches
served by a ‘dishy male nurse’.
Her words, not mine. “It’s nice
to be pampered for a change...
except, egg and cress – not ideal
when one wears dentures.” Picking
her teeth with gusto – letting rip
a most amazing fart, equal to
the guns of Navarone in ferocity;
sitting in bed in her very latest
crocheted creation – a purple, green
and red striped beret. What it lacked
in artistry, it certainly made up for
in quirkiness; it was her to a ‘T’,
slurping her mug of Horlicks
from a spoon. All this, just a day
before she died. I recall, at the time,
in spite of everything, I had two
overwhelming urges; to give her,
both a hug...and a serviette .

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Comments

Cavalcaderl | November 2, 2009 - 19:59

New Silver-spun-sand
Well done on the cherry
especially working all words
asked in.Poor Aunt Maude.That's how some go.
My Mum was same didn't know whether
laugh or cry her red dobbed face was
rouge she forgot to rub in.Made sure
dressed to her own stle "Lady in Red".
High heels like Queen Mother.
would loved designs and heels now.and to sing her Abba Super Duper song on the pier if here.My late pop
had a farting cushion as kids, if we queried make us look at
the dog and blame him?

Silver Spun Sand | November 2, 2009 - 22:08

Julie - thank you so very much. Yes, it was quite a challenge weaving in those words and I am so pleased that you appreciated that;-)

You always mention my favourite 'golden oldies'...and farting cushions. Were'nt they just something else?!!

Know what you mean about dogs, too. We used to have a German Shepherd, and he was always a good one to blame;-)

Have a good week, you and yours.

Tina;-)x

MistakenMagic | November 3, 2009 - 17:01

Sorry I missed this one, Tina! Well done on the cherry - seems like a wonderful character this Aunt Maud, and as always your poems are so very, very human ;)

Magic xxx

Silver Spun Sand | November 3, 2009 - 17:31

Thank you, dear Magic. If there is one thing that dear Aunt Maud was, it was really, really human;-)
So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for telling me.
(Good luck tomorrow, by the way. Shall keep everthing and I do mean, everything, crossed.

Tina xxxx

C_A_JONEStechno | November 3, 2009 - 18:13

C A Jones
What a charming film just played across my mind reading this. Well-deserved cherry.
Carole

Silver Spun Sand | November 3, 2009 - 18:17

Carole - I so appreciate your animated comment on this one. It means much. Thank you;-)

Tina

sarah wilson | November 5, 2009 - 11:28

Got to this late but very glad I did! A wonderful piece very deserving of a cherry xx

Silver Spun Sand | November 6, 2009 - 00:24

You know what they say, sarah. Better late than never and I'm pleased this poem, dear to my heart as it is, spoke to you.

Trust you are OK. Life deals a rough hand sometimes.Not so good for me at present, but I guess we have no choice but to just get on with it.

Again,many thanks.

Tina xxx

sarah wilson | November 6, 2009 - 15:19

Oh Tina, me too. Sometimes my creative juices run freely in these down times but other times it's like trying to get blood out of a stone. I hope you get through it soon and in the meantime, you are writing some really beautiful poetry.xxx