Aunt Mary lives in a small midwestern town
where everyone knows everyone too well
but very few know her
and that’s the way she likes it
She’s fastidious and frugal to a fault
washing mustard jars and soup cans
before putting them away
in her germfree cupboard
She boils up three eggs
and fools you into thinking
her egg salad is so filling
dessert would be superfluous
Aunt Mary loves quietly
from behind her faded apron
No public flaunting of affection
but you know if you are favored
In The Company Of Women
Edgar & Lenore’s Publishing House