The Unwanted Guest (Poetry)

They didn’t pretend
she was welcome there
no one said ‘come in
and pull up a chair’
or met her fierce stare

Nobody offered
a glass for the toast
she waited in vain
no nod from the host
she stood like a ghost

At last she spoke up
her sudden voice loud
in silence they turned
this now hostile crowd
she faced them unbowed

A long moment passed
in that chilly hall
then somebody asked
‘Did anyone call?’
she shrank from them all

One tense minute more
the drama dragged on
then bang went the door
relief all but shone —
the old witch was gone