BEFORE THE RAIN.

A GIRL HEARS HER PARENTS ROWING AGAIN.

Maud can still hear the
Parents going hammer
And tongs at each other

But she can’t make out
What all the noise is about
What it is this time that

Has set them off last time
It was money or the shortage
Of it or maybe something

About her father gambling
Or some such thing and her
Mother threw her wedding

Ring at him and hit him on
The nose but that time they
Calmed down and made it up

And became all lovey dovey
And kissing and such but this
Time the arguments are different

The tones sharper the words
More hurtful at least they seem
So the way her mother cries at

Him and throws things and stamps
Her feet and uses the kind of
Language Maud has not heard

Her use before except the time
Grandmother Philpot came and
Her mother said all matter of things

About her behind her back with
The same language thrown in when
She thought Maud wasn’t around

To hear although she was she was
Hiding behind the long curtains at
The window with her ears pressed

To the silky cloth but now leaning
Against the wall in the hall her cheek
Resting on her hands her small china

Doll on the floor where she’d thrown
Her in temper she wishes they’d make
Up soon and get all lovey dovey again

So she can go outside and play with the
Dog and doll before the coming of rain.