Poem: Darling Fred

Darling Fred

Before I heard your name

I was plain Jayne.

I couldn’t plan a party in a pub.

Before we met

I was green

eggs without ham.

Before we spoke

I was sour

without a whiskey.

Before we kissed

I was blue

cheese without a biscuit.

Before.

Before,

I was a horseshoe without luck.

Now we are together, darling Fred,

I am Ginger.

I can do anything,

even backwards and in high heels,

right to the last Bar.

Adelaide’s Michele Slatter is a retired Law academic who lived and worked in the UK and New Zealand before settling in South Australia. She is a member of several active writers’ groups, and reads regularly at Friendly Street Poets.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.