Mrs. Tight Lips
by Elizabeth Challinor
Forget what Mrs. Tight Lips
Told you at school
You do know how to draw
You are no fool
You do so much more
You are a full-time artist
You paint
We do it all the time
With the brushes of our mind
A thick heavy stroke
For fun
Or when we know
We are sure
More is good
Delicate lines
Other times
To tiptoe
Carefully around
the hesitant contour
Of our jigsaw lives
Bold splashes of paint
To celebrate
Blotches to forget
Obliterate the pain
And a brave new sheet
Of bold white paper
To start
Happily all over again
And as for Mrs. Tight Lips
Didn't you know?
Well
She retired years ago
They say she took up tango!
