Kicky-Wicky

ABC WEDNESDAY

KICKY-WICKY

Are you a kicky-wicky? The answer is probably 'Yes'.

If you're reading this and you're female you're a kicky-wicky I'd guess.

Of course, some of you may not be but I'd say the vast majority

Would belong, as I do, to the kicky-wicky sorority.

Shakespeare was a genius, very far from a dunce,

But he invented this silly word and he only used it once.

'All's Well that Ends Well' Shakespeare wrote ; that was one of his plays,

And, in it, he invented this word on one of his few 'off' days!

The word means 'wife!  Can you credit it?  It really is obscure.

Is it any wonder that the nonsense did not endure?

If you're famous, like Shakespeare, you can make-up words at will,

But if I tried doing the same thing I'd be treated as  a  dill.

*
A friend suggests that this word would have had more meaning in the days when it was acceptable to kick one's wife around!

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                           Rockwell

COMICAL TRAGEDY

The tragi-comedy that is life is captured here so well.

That's Heaven flying out the window; this breakfast table is Hell.

This must be the nineteen-thirties, judging by dress and hair,

And, in the nineteen-thirties, life was far from fair.

She married because...... she married. Wasn't that what everyone did?

And women, in the nineteen-thirties, just did as they were bid.

A little girl at sixteen, a wife at seventeen.

Ask her about education. Ask her where she's been.

And , oh, it was all so lovely, being asked to be a wife!

On a cloud of white tulle she expected to sail through a joyous life.

So much for expectations. She very quickly found

That the man of the house didn't notice her, didn't care if she was around......

Except in his bed when 'habit' soon replaced the first night of passion,

And 'hubby' became unpleasant if he didn't get his ration!

Look at her face and see 'last night'; it's written there quite clearly.

She desired the title of 'Mrs' but she's paying for it dearly.

So now he's reading the paper; men need to follow the news.

We know he'll never discuss things, or ask her for her views.

He'll be off in a moment after, maybe, a peck on the cheek,

And she'll stand and watch his departing back, feeling unsure and meek.

And then she'll do the ironing, and even make a cake;

And she'll never dream of admitting that, maybe, she's made a mistake.

Why should she? For she is a woman, and this is the life she's got.

Yes, she is a woman, and her's is a woman's lot.

*

Mr Rockwell, when you painted this, what was in your mind?

If you thought it merely funny, how could you be so unkind?

*

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PS

A much more low-key 'gig' today. We performed for the National Seniors' Group at Adamstown. It was their tenth birthday and so we had to wait awhile until they'd completed their cutting-the-cake palaver but, once they were settled, they proved to be a good audience and, as you can see, the men were good sports.

The Squire, Dan the Librarian, Mother and the spotless Heroine.