Shirley and Jenny
Shirley loved Jenny,but they were not lovers nor in love.
She loved Jenny
as a mother would love a daughter,
but they were neither.
In the circus world
where they met,
it was instant affection
as Shirley saw the younger
and love had blossomed
without a seed.
There was no need.
Perhaps it was abuse
the scars, misuse –
perchance the illness of the young
exposed
tuberculosis weakening the lung –
attacks by other peers that made her sick
beatings with a strap, a whip, or stick –
whatever was at hand
upon demand
that prompted Shirley at once to pick
the younger Jenny
to share her love.
And Jenny loved Shirley,
but they were not lovers nor in love..
Fate parted them as oft it does
and kept them parted
a near two dozen years
but not from faithful love
that always perseveres.
Jenny slowly slipped
into a deep malaise
from such a life
of circus days
more slowly dipped
from sickness, strife,
and fell upon a death bed, lay
awaiting final raucous breath
without her friend too far away.
But Shirley somehow
knew her what Jenny did
and came to her, stood by her side
all through the time that she was ill
arrived before the time she died
gave with her love a renewed will
what little time fate would allow.
Yet, Jenny saw her darling friend
who stayed ten years until the end
loved with all that each could send.
Her pals were there as faithfully –
Bunny, Tara – other friends of old –
all breaking into dirges, song –
a woeful wailing, groaning – long
like winter's thaw
like waiting for death's chilling cold.
And when it came
the trumpeting resounded endlessly
echoes sounding more throughout the wood
where all had trodden as before
they bade farewell from where they stood.
But Shirley long remembered when
in circus life with Jenny, then,
her life was good
and well it would
be once again
with Misty, young,
her mighty love renewed.
Shirley loved Misty, now,
but they were not in love
but lived as if they were
for all eternity
her Mastodonic family.
[Shirley and Misty still live with Tara and Bunny and a large extended adoptive family on an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee.]
Poetry by NotaDeadPoet
Read 890 times
Written on 2007-01-16 at 09:38
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