Monday, September 22, 2003
MERRIBELL
I first met Merribell when I was going on fifty.
She was clever, witty, and really seemed quite nifty.
She was also rough and brash and loud from the beginning,
But experience and training made her ways much more winning.
Her dress a flower print of red, pink, and green.
Her hair was pink, long, and curly; a little obscene.
Her stockings were long and striped to the knees.
Her shoes, big and red with purple palm trees.
Her hat was green with jingle bells and leaves.
Her colorful dress had big, puffy sleeves.
Her skirt was full with petticoats galore.
Her pantaloons were long--halfway to the floor.
She learned balloon animals and how to do tricks.
How to tell jokes and perform silly skits.
How to juggle water, though she did spill a bit.
But when she tried to juggle balls she’d just throw a fit.
Her voice would change when the big, red nose she’d don.
Her brown eyes would light up when she waved her magic wand.
But she always had the freedom to be someone else.
To laugh and be laughed at, not just yourself.
She did picnics, parties and parades, she worked at her play,
She took others, made their costumes, and taught them what to say.
I kinda miss being with her and the fun we always had.
Always it was good times, never was it sad.
But time goes on, age changes the things we do.
Commitments are different, forcing our life to review.
But check under that costume and make-up and you will see.
That the person smiling back at you is actually just me.
