Dolly (Poetry)

She was from birth a lively bright young thing
jazz age skittish — life a dizzy whirl
and always out there dancing in a crowd
blue-eyed Dolly — smiling goodtime girl.

She played piano — pounded out a tune
and knew the songs — the era was her own
with flapper fashions — bangles, beads and bows.
She thrived in that vivacious seaside town.

Rich boyfriends came and passing lovers went
but princess dreams soon faded once she knew
her body had betrayed her and the gin
couldn’t rid her — flush the blunder through.

So she married him — the German tall and fair
they were a handsome couple for a while
who knows what happened or which was to blame
or who left who — it ended just the same.

She raised a daughter — watched her dance away.
A mellowed Dolly aged beside the sea
dozing on a seat along the prom
and listening to the band play on and on...