THREE-PART FORFEIT

Posted by Admin on 12 April 2008, 12:00 am

It was one of those games in which forfeits are paid,
and all orders the M.C. gives are obeyed.
“Now,” said my father, when my turn was due,
“a forfeit in three parts I want you to do.
First of all bow to the one who’s the wittiest,
secondly kneel to the girl you think prettiest;
thirdly (the one you’ll enjoy most, I guess)
of all in the room kiss the one you love best.”
I bowed to my Gran who was always great fun:
I knelt before Claire who was second to none.
But then came a problem; I circled the floor,
then kissed the flushed cheek of the red-head next door.
I noticed soon after Mama went outside,
and although she said nothing, I knew that she cried,
for when she came back her eyes were quite red:
six dreadful months later my mother was dead.
Oh how I regret I did not with that kiss
in part pay for the love that had made my life bliss.