Looking Glass Friend

Rosemary

Rosemary... 

you Little Brown Jugged through your Clarinet lessons 

and I Jumping Jack flashed through mine.  

You got all the character roles      I got all the leads. 

But you were never jealous  

and there wasn't a pinch of spite 

or catty catcalling vileness in a single Celtic cell of your strong, young body. 

You would roll up your sleeves 

and take any role that was offered: 

Musical, debating, dancing, painting and dish and spoon      away with it. 

.

Remember when I got thrown out of Maths? 

being a smart-arse      (as usual) 

because I was bored (you weren't allowed to be bored back then, only gratefu - bleh!l) 

The First Year Out roared: 'Get out, Cod eyes!' 

because I wore      specs 

and pointed violently as if itching to strafe 

hulked over me with Neanderthal rage      and lethal impotence  

shaking      fuming      ready to kill. 

I slunk out destroyed.  

Everyone was sniggering delightedly. 

Thinking: 'You got what you deserved, bitch, finally. Who does she think she is?' 

Though they were far too nicely brought up well-mannered cherished little goody-two-shoes girls            to say so      out loud. 

But they thunk it, Rosie. 

I was ordered not to leave the hall     viciously    stridently    (it gave me palpitations) 

because I had a well-known tendency to take off if things got too hot      or miserable, didn't I? 

And as I stood there slowing falling     deep into myself, spiralling, only one wing shot off and the other      not     but not knowing how to      save me. 

I heard a commotion from inside - 

Rosie sassing the 'stud' 

getting thrown out 

just to be with me. 

...............And Joy.............came back............... 

and we chortled and giggled and kept shushing ourselves. Every minute you were there      the ugliness and despair      leached out of      me. 

You were magic, Rosie. 

                                          Magic. 

.

Told me once you were plain. 

That of all of your musically-gifted, laughter-loving, elfin family you      were      the Changeling. 

Oh you were plain, all right, Rosie. 

                                                       Plain bloody brilliant. 

Plain compassionate and devoted and gifted with the sight, that you       were, my girl.    You

took a stray in. 

Let me be part of your wonderful family. I can't thank you enough for all that.

     I know you got to climb the Himalayas 

     I hope you reached other peaks as well. 

     Met someone nice and made a large loving family. 

     Became a chef or a cook or pastry-maker      what does it matter?

     Whatever you made  

     you always made      well. 

.

Rosemary... 

you were the wild aromatic herb wind-drifted soothing odour that calmed  

my feverish brain.