Lexie Emery
(no, she's Blake now, of course) ...

Hadn't seen her for years
- fifty to be precise -
It was the reunion of the drama group,
couldn't believe she was still with us.
Recognized the awful voice,
deep,
noisily penetrating.

She used to play piano,
belting out familiar tunes
with more enthusiasm
than accuracy.
Mum used to say
'I wish she'd use a few more chords.'

She also trod the boards of the old hall
with great ebullience,
memorable as the headmistress
in 'The Happiest Days of you Life',
eyebrows drawn on with black pencil,
rough as bags.
Audiences loved her.

Her second child was born at home
Mum told me,
delivered her on the floor by herself -
Such a plain baby...

Re-married after John died
(suddenly of a heart attack) -
a younger man,
much younger,
'So embarrassing,
but he really adores me, ' she said.

Funny, she outlived him as well...

I promised I'd visit,
put her number in my phone.
I must give her a ring -
I suppose she won't be around for much longer...

Alison Cassidy

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lexie/