Betty

[moonbird]

Silly old girl.
If only she could hear how positively dotty she sounds.
Getting on in the years, I suppose.
Honestly! I don't know what she could have against dear Betty.
She's only five, after all.
Get a new maid? No, I've never considered it.
Perhaps I will, if Gladys keeps scaring my little girl.
Oh, she says many cruel things.
That she's a demon, or a ghost.
That I'm insane.
(Ironic, isn't it?)
On her worst days, she'll screech at me that Betty's dead!
Poor child, she's terrified of Gladys.
Have you met her yet? No? Well, I must have you over some time.
Perhaps after we've drunk our coffee, if you're not busy?
Ah, splendid.
What's that? Brain cancer?
Where in the world did you hear such a thing?
My Betty's always been pink with health!
Yes, odd how rumors appear sometimes.
Drink up now, my friend.
Betty will be so pleased to meet you.

[moonbird]

I actually started to write this as a story, but wondered if it would make a better poem instead. What do you guys think?

[PrinceMyshkin]

I think it's spooky as heck but held my attention tautly all the way through.

[hillwalker]

I agree with Prince - spooky, but in an interesting way. It leaves the reader wondering how much is true and how much is delusion.
And the gentle, conversational style makes it all the more credible and unnerving.

Really good stuff

H

[Bar22do]

It makes the reader wonder tout court! though I seem to sense a tragic touch... would definitely want to have an answer. Well written, and for me, although it's poetic as it is, in the form of a story would read even better! Bar

[Hawkman]

I think this is really clever - a one sided conversation replete with inference. I like.