Cupboard Love

CUPBOARD LOVE Brown Tanya Teddy bear and Soft Syd the toy elk were bored With their white shirts and pants coloured kinda rust Sitting next to each other for six months in the cupboard Whispering words of affection and gathering dust Time came to clean their fur through the window one morn In the eighthteenth floor apartment Mum’s tight hands grasped the fur and elkhorn Shaking their dust in clouds out into the firmament While they trembled, looking nervously down at the street The elk yelled to the bear, “Wanted to speak and never got a chance. Something I always meant to say my sweet - I want to marry you to complete our romance. I never wanted to leave you on the shelf, But I always wanted you to be my wife.” He struggled in the dust to kiss her himself But the brown bear was afraid for her life: The road down there was a long way to fall And the hands that shook them could let go and drop Especially if you’re a tiny brown toy-doll And this could bring your shelf-life to a sudden stop. But soon the fur and the horns were dust-free And Mum brought them into the bedroom again. They settled down together in the cupboard with glee All fear and panic were gone - no more pain. They sat in the darkness and she held his elk-hoof, Waved her ring finger and removed her glove. She said, “Well, let’s marry now.” He answered aloof, “No, I’m sorry my sweet, it was only cupboard love.”