A Glimpse

A GLIMPSE

A family
who lives in this town
A widow
and her three daughters
Two of the daughters
are learning to type
at the local Secretarial College
About half past five
on an afternoon in spring
the living-room door was ajar
There was no-one about
Just a girl at the piano
playing a popular melody
The words mocked her beauty
Her beauty mocked the words
The tones were quiet
melancholy
and sad

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 30th January 1971

1972 THE WINE THE WOMEN AND THE SONG (Pyle, Kenfig Press)
1990 International Poetry Suplemento (USA)