Chic

She gets along
incredibly well
knows how to
handle parents
and others, still
... parents love it.

Demanding from all
who are tired lazy
and fat, she affirms
what most felt ...
... or feared
We will see about that!

Parents terrorize each other
help her child yearnings
and foaming madness
at being put off
developing to a peak,

Apex of impatience
such a simple thing
lost or wasted
on lessor beings
and non-siblings,

Patience, peace, cooperation
fruits of one's intentions,
are as inefficient to her
as joy, chastity, and, perfection
in her acts of contrition;

Hides from complicated tasks
though she feeds on
pledges of others...
dawdles on a limb
... her natural requiem

Thinking all the while
of hideaways,
and perfect slumber,
for her ubiquitous schemes.
Chic is not what it seems.

Patrick Darnell (July 1976)