Clumpen Life Poem by Charlotte Peters Rock

A clump of women
careful laced-up shoes
hair in shades of grey
iron spreading into silver

folded up their indoor picnic
put the cups and knives away
chattered on about their painting tips
gleaned from years

splay-legged upon a donkey
or standing picking tutors brains
by the wooden easel at the back

painting bright lit bowls of fruit on tables
naked ladies sleeping on the sofa -
more often shivering bluely on a chair
dressed in woollen jumpers and a coat

Picking up their memories
of week long painting holidays or
cruising Master Classes

People who knew better
Celebrities who uttered
in a careful confidential manner
just enough to keep lumpen minds
moving sluggish onward

to classes in the afternoon
or cruises offered for next summer

14Jan1996 CPR