Frustrated And Hot 1916 Poem by Terry Collett

Susie scrubbed
the huge pot
after breakfast

Mrs Gripe the cook
moaning in the background
in the kitchen

Susie thought of Polly
in the bed they share
in the cold attic

and how she snuggled
up to Polly in the bed
and wanted

to get closer to her
but feared Polly hitting her
if she got too familiar

and she did kiss
her shoulder once
while she was asleep

and held her
and pressed her nose
into her shoulder

and held tight
about the waist
to keep warm

and outside owls
were calling
and far off traffic

but up there
in the attic
a small kingdom

and warming
and loving or so
she wished

scrubbing around
the rim of the huge pot
feeling frustrated and hot.