Nora, Howard, and the barn

Nora and Howard met in the barn.

Howard's wife a farmhand,

not a housekeeper.

She preferred animal husbandry,

so housework was kept,

at a survival level.

Nora ask Howard,

why are we meeting in the barn?

Nora, you have seen my barn.

Yes.

You have seen my house.

Yes.

Then why are we meeting in the barn?

Yes, I see,

then said Nora.

"Not While I'm Around"

"Not while I'm around
Nothing's gonna harm you
No sir, not while I'm around"

He often confused, them,

the three, of them.

The mother, the nanny, and the spouse.

In his mind, they are the Trinity,

the Holy Trinity.

One gave him life,

one gave him love,

and one gave him the world.

Remove any leg of the stool,

and his life would spin apart.

He battled with the first,

for years, in an eternal embrace.

The second carried him, for years,

while he learned to trust the world.

The final became the base,

for the remainder of his life.

Did he protect them,

or did they nurture him?

This then the question,

in his mind,

today.

"Not While I am Around"

Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd

Not While I'm Around

Momma, Nanny, and the dishes

His nanny often told him,

of the argument, 

long before she became,

the nanny.

They argued, often,

over the dishes.

Dating father, momma was,

coming over then was Lynn.

This continual argument,

over the dishes.

So tired, of the argument,

between the sisters,

over the dishes,

was Gramma, this day.

Just do the dishes Nance,

Grandma begged.

Grandma had a hard day,

cleaning rooms at the motel,

still too many mouths 

to feed this day.

Experience had taught Grandma,

speaking with Voyle, would not,

bring an end, to the argument.

For just this time of peace,

would the nanny just do the dishes,

to bring some rest,

to the family, this day?