My Cousin Chaos

We lived in our ancestral bungalow Three generations veneered each other Cousin Joy, the naughtiest had died young The gloom didn't last long as we started Feeling his chaos continuing everywhere When we sat to dine a musical tinkling On bone china could be heard and we kids smiled 'Joy is with us at dinner clinking his notes!' Most of all he followed me like my shadow I refused to pay him attention And he refused to leave me! I once walked through his bedroom Admiring the antique collection Before a second thought could fleet in I heard a loud crash and Aunt Rose firmly said 'Your dress brushed the statuette to death!' At night I helped my aunt in washing the dishes And the buttery handle slipped Neat into my aghast hand while The ceramic cup was left handicapped! Another day I was carrying The tea tray to the verandah For grandpa with all love and respect Bonzo, Joy's pet, was scampering around, (A sign that he felt Joy's presence) For a wild chase with the squirrels I warned my invisible Cousin Chaos To scoot off but heard his devilish laughter and The floor was digitalised with a ceramic design! Everyone had fond tales of their chaotic encounters We siblings grew up having fun within his walls One by one all we moved out to reap our lives The silence of an empty home permanently silenced Joy's joy! June 11, 2016 For Brian Davey