At first SIGHT, Elsa seemed ill-suited to SPEAK for the team. She was a rookie, and still figuring out how to conduct herself. Furthermore, in a tense conversation that morning, Elsa and her colleagues had discussed the importance of today’s meeting with Lord Aldridge. A lot was riding on this meeting. After much back and forth, it was decided that Elsa should be the spokeswoman. His Lordship was a bit of a loose cannon, especially where women were concerned, and they really needed him to stay focused. The goal was, naturally, to make sure that the funding of the expedition was not going to evaporate unexpectedly. A firm hand was needed, someone unafraid and not easily ruffled. Elsa came, shall we say from a less genteel background than the rest of the group. She was unafraid of the SEAMY side of life. Indeed, she had laughed at the idea that Lord Aldridge could unsettle her with his erratic nature, not to speak of his tendency to introduce dubious topics of conversation. “Ha, let him try and distract me,” she had said. “I have seen things and heard even more on a SCALE that he will be hard-pressed to top.” And with that, the Ladies Archeological Society of Bristol felt prepared to meet with their new patron.

Georg’ann

BELOW the window LEDGE
there’s a wooden chair, of sorts.
Backless with curved delicate arms.
Sometimes they seem ALIVE,
like wings in motion.
The cane seat is covered
with faded Turkish pillow.
It’s a favorite cat perch.

From the sapphire blue couch
I watch her watch the garden.
Today the Japanese MAPLE
is especially active
with cardinals and chickadees.

Perhaps they’d like STALE bread.
It isn’t right for French toast.
Not interested in making croutons or crumbs.

The SCALE of today is balanced.
Reminder to move gingerly,
speak truth kindly and quietly.

Heather