No Talk

Her father said nothing
No speaking at the table,
was the order of the day
At the table only eating.

Faces formed by the food
on the plate smiled and stared
at her as she ate.

She made roads and rivers
and patted it down,
a faced smiled up at her
and she laughed like a clown.

A clip round the ear from mother,
who sat near.
Father looked up on his face
a scowl.
The other kids smiled
This will put her in her place.
Father pointed to the hallway
But nothing was said.
She soon got the message
and quickly fled.

Back to the table, five minutes had passed
she burped very loudly ,
and all the kids laughed,
out to the hall way they all marched
in line.
Giggling and choking ,
they all did the time.
They knew he wasn't angry
his face held a smile.
His eyes shone very brightly.
But only for a while.

I wonder what our table talk
would have been..
Maybe it would have flown ,
like a beautiful stream.

© Naomi