Oh my how br red cock struts br br (thinks he's a sultan) br br striding in and out among br his harem scarum hens br br talking to themselves br like some br lost senile sentimental souls br br foolish fowl br br they lay eggs for gentlemen br and kids on long hot summer br holidays br br they hide their eggs like br broken hearts br br like old love br letter secrets br br safe in unseen br places. br br But see Auntie Nellie br willy nilly as a fox br br stalk the chickens br and expose them br br cruell as the NEWS OF THE WORLD. br br See her raid the haystacks br (back seat of the old car) br rain rusting machinery br br her apron pregnant br and precious with br br the warm and brown br gift of eggs. br br Red Cock crows br loud against the morning marigolds br br while children's voices br babble sleepily br into wide awakefulness br br love letter secrets br staining their lips br br sad valentines br for breakfast. br br ******* br br SEAMS? NAY, ‘TIS NOT SEAMS MADAM...IT IS! (for Auntie Nellie) br br My hand trembling br trying to keep a straight face br br drawing a seam br down the back of each of my Auntie’s legs br br “Keep it straight…keep it straight! ” br she’d shriek br br (giggle as it tickled) br br I became quite an expert br at it. br br Looking over her shoulder br coquettishly br br her heavily mascaraed eyes br eying my handiwork br in the mottled mirror.