Cousin Rachel

Cousin Rachel

who smokes like a lum
and drinks like a fish,
who shows her teeth
when she smiles,
who is a scandal,
who may be on drugs,
who doesn't have a proper job
in an office or a shop,
who drives a sports car
like the damned on holiday,
who is known to be a man eater
and may be a woman eater too,
who got married once
but gave hubby the heave ho,
who hasn't been inside a church
since she was a girl
but if you ask will tell
all about greeks and goddesses,
who brought back pictures from Ephesus,
who talks about masturbation at Xmas,
who the aunts say will come to a bad end,
who the uncles say will crash and burn,

says,

though we all
have to
make
compromises,
there are
compromises
you just don't
have to
make.