#1900 - Hello Poetry

Millie stands by the wall staring at the coming and going of people along the passage where the grownups are. Her older twin sisters Anna and Bella stand together by the huge vases her father had brought back with him from one of his adventures. They hold hands dressed in the black and white pinafore dresses whispering to each other as they often did with their secrets and isolationism. Millie's younger sister Lisbet sits on the huge grey patterned carpet with her doll her long golden tresses over her shoulders. She too looks down the passage at the coming and going of the grown-up people their laughter and loud guffaws from the men. Millie has her hands behind her back fiddling with her white apron straps at the back. She is wearing the scarlet pinafore as her black one has become too small for her Nanny had said. The people along the passage have disappeared into the rooms and all is quiet again. Lisbet plays with her doll talking to it in her childish tones. Millie is glad the people have gone. She hates it when visitors come friends of her father's usually come to stay and talk and dine with the family downstairs while she and her sisters eat with Nanny in the nursery out of their sight. Anna and Bella giggle and walk off along the other passage towards the empty rooms where they can explore and pretend are rooms of magic. Lisbet gets up and walks off after them leaving Millie alone by the wall. She stares along the passage fearing one of the guests will venture down towards her and talk to her bending down to her as if they were giants or witches with their large faces painted with red lips and large eyes. She listens for them. She wishes her father never invited these people. She dislikes them being around as they disquiet her. A few months ago one of the guests a man tall and with dark piercing eyes and a close friend of her father's walked down to where she was and talked with her. Her sisters were elsewhere. Nanny was off for a few hours and in the nearby town. The man had offered Millie a selection of sweets and she had taken one shyly and unwrapped it and put it in her mouth. He seemed quite friendly and asked about the house and garden. She warmed to him as he seemed friendly and not snobbish like many of her father's friends. He asked if she could show him around the house and gardens. She said she would and felt important as if it was her house she was showing him. After a little while he went off and said thank you and went to his room along the guest's passage. Millie was just about to go along to the nursery when his door opened and he called her and asked if she would like to see his book of butterflies and also his case of butterflies he had caught. She smiled and said she would and entered his room. The room was larger than hers and her sisters' and had large window looking out on the gardens below. There were paintings on the walls of landscapes of places your father had been or wished to go some day. He closed the door after she had entered and went to get the book of butterflies and opened it for her and she sat on a two seater sofa by the wall. He spoke of the various butterflies and their colours and patterns. She listened willing to learn about them. Then he put a hand around her and drew her close to him. Her left arm was held between his body and hers. She felt bewildered. No one had embraced her like this before not even Nanny. He spoke on as if he was unaware of his actions unaware of her sense of unease. She wanted to get up and leave she couldn't his arms held her close to him. She lost interest in the butterflies. She just wanted to go. He looked at her and closed the book. He placed it by the side of the sofa. He said she was very pretty like a young princess and he kissed her cheek. She felt frightened now and wanted him to stop wanted for him to let her go. She stared ahead at the window opposite. Trees were waving in the afternoon breeze and birds flew across the sky. His hand had moved down her leg and his fingers touched her knees. Someone called her name. Millie the voice called. He removed his arm and hand and stood up and he smiled at her. She did not smile at him but searched him with her frightened eyes searching for words to say something but no words would come. He opened the door and put his head out of the doorway and called the maid who had been calling for Millie. The maid came and he talked to her and she curtsied and nodded her head and he told her he was showing Millie his book of butterflies which she had enjoyed. Millie said nothing. She left the room not looking back at him feeling undone feeling as if she had stepped into a dark place. The man left a few days later and Millie said nothing to anyone about him or what he had done. She couldn't sleep that night. She dreamed afterwards that he had come into her room and had touched her and she had screamed and Nanny came running in and had asked what was the matter. Millie said she had had a nightmare. She said nothing about the man. Anna and Bella come along the passage from the rooms hand in hand whispering and giggling. Lisbet follows dragging her doll by the arm along the floor and sits once more on the carpet playing and talking with the doll. Millie stares along the passage. The rooms are closed. The guests inside. Millie likes the silence. No one talks to her much now. She hasn't talked much since that day. She won't walk down the passage alone any more. She leans against the wall staring at the floor.

0

Apr 6, 2017

Apr 6, 2017 at 12:03 PM UTC

TerryCollett

UNSUSPECTED 1900 (PROSE POEM)

Millie stands by the wall staring at the coming and going of people along the passage where the grownups are. Her older twin sisters Anna and Bella stand together by the huge vases her father had brought back with him from one of his adventures. They hold hands dressed in the black and white pinafore dresses whispering to each other as they often did with their secrets and isolationism. Millie's younger sister Lisbet sits on the huge grey patterned carpet with her doll her long golden tresses over her shoulders. She too looks down the passage at the coming and going of the grown-up people their laughter and loud guffaws from the men. Millie has her hands behind her back fiddling with her white apron straps at the back. She is wearing the scarlet pinafore as her black one has become too small for her Nanny had said. The people along the passage have disappeared into the rooms and all is quiet again. Lisbet plays with her doll talking to it in her childish tones. Millie is glad the people have gone. She hates it when visitors come friends of her father's usually come to stay and talk and dine with the family downstairs while she and her sisters eat with Nanny in the nursery out of their sight. Anna and Bella giggle and walk off along the other passage towards the empty rooms where they can explore and pretend are rooms of magic. Lisbet gets up and walks off after them leaving Millie alone by the wall. She stares along the passage fearing one of the guests will venture down towards her and talk to her bending down to her as if they were giants or witches with their large faces painted with red lips and large eyes. She listens for them. She wishes her father never invited these people. She dislikes them being around as they disquiet her. A few months ago one of the guests a man tall and with dark piercing eyes and a close friend of her father's walked down to where she was and talked with her. Her sisters were elsewhere. Nanny was off for a few hours and in the nearby town. The man had offered Millie a selection of sweets and she had taken one shyly and unwrapped it and put it in her mouth. He seemed quite friendly and asked about the house and garden. She warmed to him as he seemed friendly and not snobbish like many of her father's friends. He asked if she could show him around the house and gardens. She said she would and felt important as if it was her house she was showing him. After a little while he went off and said thank you and went to his room along the guest's passage. Millie was just about to go along to the nursery when his door opened and he called her and asked if she would like to see his book of butterflies and also his case of butterflies he had caught. She smiled and said she would and entered his room. The room was larger than hers and her sisters' and had large window looking out on the gardens below. There were paintings on the walls of landscapes of places your father had been or wished to go some day. He closed the door after she had entered and went to get the book of butterflies and opened it for her and she sat on a two seater sofa by the wall. He spoke of the various butterflies and their colours and patterns. She listened willing to learn about them. Then he put a hand around her and drew her close to him. Her left arm was held between his body and hers. She felt bewildered. No one had embraced her like this before not even Nanny. He spoke on as if he was unaware of his actions unaware of her sense of unease. She wanted to get up and leave she couldn't his arms held her close to him. She lost interest in the butterflies. She just wanted to go. He looked at her and closed the book. He placed it by the side of the sofa. He said she was very pretty like a young princess and he kissed her cheek. She felt frightened now and wanted him to stop wanted for him to let her go. She stared ahead at the window opposite. Trees were waving in the afternoon breeze and birds flew across the sky. His hand had moved down her leg and his fingers touched her knees. Someone called her name. Millie the voice called. He removed his arm and hand and stood up and he smiled at her. She did not smile at him but searched him with her frightened eyes searching for words to say something but no words would come. He opened the door and put his head out of the doorway and called the maid who had been calling for Millie. The maid came and he talked to her and she curtsied and nodded her head and he told her he was showing Millie his book of butterflies which she had enjoyed. Millie said nothing. She left the room not looking back at him feeling undone feeling as if she had stepped into a dark place. The man left a few days later and Millie said nothing to anyone about him or what he had done. She couldn't sleep that night. She dreamed afterwards that he had come into her room and had touched her and she had screamed and Nanny came running in and had asked what was the matter. Millie said she had had a nightmare. She said nothing about the man. Anna and Bella come along the passage from the rooms hand in hand whispering and giggling. Lisbet follows dragging her doll by the arm along the floor and sits once more on the carpet playing and talking with the doll. Millie stares along the passage. The rooms are closed. The guests inside. Millie likes the silence. No one talks to her much now. She hasn't talked much since that day. She won't walk down the passage alone any more. She leans against the wall staring at the floor.

1

We don't talk much now. We sit in the cafe with our ***** and stare about the place listening to the Parisians talking. He sits there smoking his pipe eyeing the girls. I stare at all the men. Lulu he said that evening before we left our place you need to talk more. About what? You and me he said. What about you and me? We don't do it anymore. We don't anymore. Not after those he's been with. How do I know he hasn't got the pox? I couldn't not after him being elsewhere. He eyes them all the time. I sip my ***** Think of the baby we lost. I lost more like. Born dead. Lifeless lying there. There's music playing. Dancers on the floor. Show girls. Showing too much. He likes it. Eyes out drinking them in. Monsieur veut le sexe the street girls will say. After that we don't anymore. We sleep side by side but don't do it. I couldn't. Not now. Another drink? He says. I nod my head. He hails the waiter. The waiter goes off with orders. Edgar talks in his sleep. Calls out names. Girls names. He'd like to. Not with me he don't. Vous poisson froid he says. Maybe I am. Don't give a ****

0

Jun 22, 2016

Jun 22, 2016 at 2:34 AM UTC

TerryCollett

PARIS 1900

We don't talk much now. We sit in the cafe with our ***** and stare about the place listening to the Parisians talking. He sits there smoking his pipe eyeing the girls. I stare at all the men. Lulu he said that evening before we left our place you need to talk more. About what? You and me he said. What about you and me? We don't do it anymore. We don't anymore. Not after those he's been with. How do I know he hasn't got the pox? I couldn't not after him being elsewhere. He eyes them all the time. I sip my ***** Think of the baby we lost. I lost more like. Born dead. Lifeless lying there. There's music playing. Dancers on the floor. Show girls. Showing too much. He likes it. Eyes out drinking them in. Monsieur veut le sexe the street girls will say. After that we don't anymore. We sleep side by side but don't do it. I couldn't. Not now. Another drink? He says. I nod my head. He hails the waiter. The waiter goes off with orders. Edgar talks in his sleep. Calls out names. Girls names. He'd like to. Not with me he don't. Vous poisson froid he says. Maybe I am. Don't give a ****

71

Celia hugged Tabby to her chest the kitten sunk its small claws into Celia's white dress looked about the room and then settled down in Celia's lap and lay down purring loudly Celia smelt the soft black and brown and white fur and stroked it gently. Her parents were out some place in the country visiting relatives Masters the butler had poked his head in a while ago and asked if she needed anything and she had no she needed nothing and he had said to ring the bell if she needed anything and he would send Larch the kitchen maid who Celia knew as Lily a small girl with large dark eyes that sparkled and a soft manner of talking. Tabby closed its eyes and lay in Celia's lap satisfied where he was and Celia looked at him and wished he would stay awake so she could play with him but he seemed too tired to play so she let him sleep. Her brother Charles was away at school and wouldn't be back until the summer holidays when they could go down to the river at the bottom of the garden and fish or just lay and talk or Charles would tell her stories he made up or tales from school. Tabby purred loudly and its paws moved as if it was running in its dream and Celia wondered whether to lay him down on the rug by her bed and let him sleep and then she could do something other than be his bed. Nanny who usually looked after her and kept her out of mischief was unwell and was laid up in bed in her own room on the upper landing Celia missed having Nanny around and it was boring trying to make up her own mind what to do and it was Nanny who used to do her hair in the mornings and help her dress although Mother did talk about her having her own lady's maid to help her and leave Nanny to do the other things but Father had said not now but when Celia was older but Celia quite liked the idea of having her own lady's maid someone she could talk to and who could help her in the mornings and evenings. She didn't like being alone she felt vulnerable especially when her father's friend's came to stay and one of them Mr Mealy stayed a plump middle-aged man who used to pull her unto his lap and would put his arms about her and hug her closed to him and his whiskers would tickled her neck and sometimes he would tickle her and she didn't like it and would squirm to get down and away but he was too strong for her and she would just stay there going red with frustration. She lifted Tabby and put him down gently on the rug by her bed and still he purred unaware he was not on her lap anymore. She went to the window and standing on a chair she peered out on the grounds below and the fields and trees beyond watching the birds in the air and down by the rose beds was Chubb the gardener sorting out the roses bending down then up again sometimes if she asked nicely Chubb would cut her a red rose to put in a vase in her room but today he looked far too busy for her to worry him about roses along the path was the tall maid with her dark hair pulled back in bun carrying a basket of washing to the line at the back of the house the maid's name was Betsy who seldom smiled and would scowl at Masters's back her dark eyebrows rising high and her thin tongue poking out at him while his back was turned and Celia had seen her do it one day while venturing along by the kitchen and Masters had been lecturing them about something or other. Having looked for a while at the grounds and fields and trees blowing a bit in the wind she climbed down from the chair and looked at Tabby asleep on the rug by her bed then thinking there was nothing to do in her bedroom she opened her door and looked both ways then closed the door behind her with a gentle click. Where to go and what to do she mused walking carefully along the landing tiptoeing past the guest's room in case anyone was there especially Mr Mealy with his hugs and tickles and touches and his breath in her ear and his stubby fingers holding her against him and she not liking it and attempting to get away but couldn't and that time he meet her on the stairs after lunch and he said about taking her for a walk by the river to show him the flowers that grew there and watch for fishes swimming along and she had said no thank you but Father insisted and she had to go and Mr Mealy held her small hand in his big hand and they walked slowly down the path to the river and he had lifted her up to smell a blossom on a cherry tree and his big hands were around her waist and she hated it and quickly smelt the blossoms to please him then he let her down again laughing. She stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down to see if anyone was coming up but no one was so she climbed down slowly one step at a time holding onto the banister with her right hand which she could just about reach the smooth wood running under her palm the smell of polish from her surroundings the bright light from the sun coming through the large windows in the hall. At the bottom she stopped and looked around the hall with the big wooden front doors facing her and windows on both sides and then to her right was the billiard room where her father went with his friends to play billiards and drink and smoke and talk to the right of that was her father's study where he spent time reading or writing or talking to friends. Just as she was gazing at the doors Masters the butler came along from the outer door which led along to the kitchens ah Miss Celia he said in his smooth baritone voice staring at her and stooping slightly can I be of any help? Or did you require anything? No she said softly looking at Masters's black shiny shoes I was just having a walk around o right yes well if you require anything ring one of the bells he said she looked up at him and smiled he smiled back and walked off hands at his sides his head slightly to one side as if he were a bird looking for a worm. She opened the door that led to the kitchen the door was heavy and it took her all her strength to open it wide enough to get through which she did and slid through the gap and walked down the stairs and along to the kitchen with its voices and pans and saucepans banging and people rushing about. When she got to the kitchen door she peered in and saw the cook Mrs Stark rolling out pastry on a big board her big arms and hands making easy work of it over the side by the sink was a kitchen maid a thin girl wearing a white cap with gingery hair poking out at the sides and back her thin red hands in water Mrs Stark saw Celia at the doorway and stopped what she was doing hello Miss Celia how can I help you? Mrs Stark said her voice firm but kindly at least with her when she spoke to the maid she bellowed like a cow in labour the kitchen maid looked around and stared at Celia the maid's name was Dolly or Darkins the cook called her if in a bad mood nothing Celia said unless you have any spare currants the cook smiled and said of course Miss Celia come with me and Celia followed behind the cook who was big and waddled as she walked into the pantry and took down a huge glass jar and opened it up and poured currants into a container and gave Celia the container and put the glass jar back on the shelf. Can I sit by the fireplace? Celia asked looking at the cook's big red face of course you can she said so Celia walked over to the fireplace with the container of currants and sat on a wooden stool and watched the flames in the fire and gazed at the burning coals and thought maybe she would save some currants and give them when she got back to the room to her dolls.

0

Nov 24, 2016

Nov 24, 2016 at 10:54 AM UTC

TerryCollett

OUT OF MISCHIEF 1900. (PROSE POEM)

Celia hugged Tabby to her chest the kitten sunk its small claws into Celia's white dress looked about the room and then settled down in Celia's lap and lay down purring loudly Celia smelt the soft black and brown and white fur and stroked it gently. Her parents were out some place in the country visiting relatives Masters the butler had poked his head in a while ago and asked if she needed anything and she had no she needed nothing and he had said to ring the bell if she needed anything and he would send Larch the kitchen maid who Celia knew as Lily a small girl with large dark eyes that sparkled and a soft manner of talking. Tabby closed its eyes and lay in Celia's lap satisfied where he was and Celia looked at him and wished he would stay awake so she could play with him but he seemed too tired to play so she let him sleep. Her brother Charles was away at school and wouldn't be back until the summer holidays when they could go down to the river at the bottom of the garden and fish or just lay and talk or Charles would tell her stories he made up or tales from school. Tabby purred loudly and its paws moved as if it was running in its dream and Celia wondered whether to lay him down on the rug by her bed and let him sleep and then she could do something other than be his bed. Nanny who usually looked after her and kept her out of mischief was unwell and was laid up in bed in her own room on the upper landing Celia missed having Nanny around and it was boring trying to make up her own mind what to do and it was Nanny who used to do her hair in the mornings and help her dress although Mother did talk about her having her own lady's maid to help her and leave Nanny to do the other things but Father had said not now but when Celia was older but Celia quite liked the idea of having her own lady's maid someone she could talk to and who could help her in the mornings and evenings. She didn't like being alone she felt vulnerable especially when her father's friend's came to stay and one of them Mr Mealy stayed a plump middle-aged man who used to pull her unto his lap and would put his arms about her and hug her closed to him and his whiskers would tickled her neck and sometimes he would tickle her and she didn't like it and would squirm to get down and away but he was too strong for her and she would just stay there going red with frustration. She lifted Tabby and put him down gently on the rug by her bed and still he purred unaware he was not on her lap anymore. She went to the window and standing on a chair she peered out on the grounds below and the fields and trees beyond watching the birds in the air and down by the rose beds was Chubb the gardener sorting out the roses bending down then up again sometimes if she asked nicely Chubb would cut her a red rose to put in a vase in her room but today he looked far too busy for her to worry him about roses along the path was the tall maid with her dark hair pulled back in bun carrying a basket of washing to the line at the back of the house the maid's name was Betsy who seldom smiled and would scowl at Masters's back her dark eyebrows rising high and her thin tongue poking out at him while his back was turned and Celia had seen her do it one day while venturing along by the kitchen and Masters had been lecturing them about something or other. Having looked for a while at the grounds and fields and trees blowing a bit in the wind she climbed down from the chair and looked at Tabby asleep on the rug by her bed then thinking there was nothing to do in her bedroom she opened her door and looked both ways then closed the door behind her with a gentle click. Where to go and what to do she mused walking carefully along the landing tiptoeing past the guest's room in case anyone was there especially Mr Mealy with his hugs and tickles and touches and his breath in her ear and his stubby fingers holding her against him and she not liking it and attempting to get away but couldn't and that time he meet her on the stairs after lunch and he said about taking her for a walk by the river to show him the flowers that grew there and watch for fishes swimming along and she had said no thank you but Father insisted and she had to go and Mr Mealy held her small hand in his big hand and they walked slowly down the path to the river and he had lifted her up to smell a blossom on a cherry tree and his big hands were around her waist and she hated it and quickly smelt the blossoms to please him then he let her down again laughing. She stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down to see if anyone was coming up but no one was so she climbed down slowly one step at a time holding onto the banister with her right hand which she could just about reach the smooth wood running under her palm the smell of polish from her surroundings the bright light from the sun coming through the large windows in the hall. At the bottom she stopped and looked around the hall with the big wooden front doors facing her and windows on both sides and then to her right was the billiard room where her father went with his friends to play billiards and drink and smoke and talk to the right of that was her father's study where he spent time reading or writing or talking to friends. Just as she was gazing at the doors Masters the butler came along from the outer door which led along to the kitchens ah Miss Celia he said in his smooth baritone voice staring at her and stooping slightly can I be of any help? Or did you require anything? No she said softly looking at Masters's black shiny shoes I was just having a walk around o right yes well if you require anything ring one of the bells he said she looked up at him and smiled he smiled back and walked off hands at his sides his head slightly to one side as if he were a bird looking for a worm. She opened the door that led to the kitchen the door was heavy and it took her all her strength to open it wide enough to get through which she did and slid through the gap and walked down the stairs and along to the kitchen with its voices and pans and saucepans banging and people rushing about. When she got to the kitchen door she peered in and saw the cook Mrs Stark rolling out pastry on a big board her big arms and hands making easy work of it over the side by the sink was a kitchen maid a thin girl wearing a white cap with gingery hair poking out at the sides and back her thin red hands in water Mrs Stark saw Celia at the doorway and stopped what she was doing hello Miss Celia how can I help you? Mrs Stark said her voice firm but kindly at least with her when she spoke to the maid she bellowed like a cow in labour the kitchen maid looked around and stared at Celia the maid's name was Dolly or Darkins the cook called her if in a bad mood nothing Celia said unless you have any spare currants the cook smiled and said of course Miss Celia come with me and Celia followed behind the cook who was big and waddled as she walked into the pantry and took down a huge glass jar and opened it up and poured currants into a container and gave Celia the container and put the glass jar back on the shelf. Can I sit by the fireplace? Celia asked looking at the cook's big red face of course you can she said so Celia walked over to the fireplace with the container of currants and sat on a wooden stool and watched the flames in the fire and gazed at the burning coals and thought maybe she would save some currants and give them when she got back to the room to her dolls.

1