SOCIAL GEOMETRY

She dresses in cucumber sandwiches,
her twin set slices finely cut in white,
with sheen of buttered silk and pale-green pearls.

She Age-Concerns old blouses; coffee-mornings,
raffles Noble Causes, knits Good Work;
preserves The Moral Tone of jam. She serves

and simpers. In her book of hours, she minutes
staid committees, seconds candidates
opposing cheese-and-pickle plans. Disclosures

shared with friends as silver teaspoons tinkle
stir the undertones of Neighbourhood Watch.
No-one can match her crab-apple jelly.

On Earl Grey days, she bathes her slivers in brine,
manicures her crusts, gratefully unmarred
by Moira’s wrinkles, Molly’s double chin …

Sour circles in triangular niceness.

Joanna Watson