The lodge in harsh flourescent light
is hung with tired pre-loved tinsel
and orange vinyl chairs sit side by side
in even rows and trestle tables laid
with paper cloths are red and green
and chipped glass bowls hold chips
and nuts and brightly colored sweets
and cans of coke and lemonade
The room fills up with suited men in ties
and wives in fancy frocks and pearls
The women gather awkwardly in groups
The men stand with their cans of beer
A five-piece band plays swing
and rock-n roll with equal verve
The pianist young with Liberace flare
The others play in tune and laugh a lot
At eight o'clock the supper is announced
The men and women form a tidy line, which
shuffles past the salads, chicken, ham
and cutlery like porcupines in jars
And then the couples make their way, in
ones and twos toward the polished boards
George is blind. His wife, a large and loving
woman guides him deftly across the floor
At nearly eighty four Bill Blood is slight
with light grey shoes and awful greasy hair
He holds his dumpy mottled little wife
with confidence and graceful easy flare
The other couples shuffle back and forth
some in, some out of time, all comfortable
The band plays numbers everybody knows
and those still seated nod their drowsy heads
At ten o'clock the raffle draw's announced
and patrons view their tickets blue and green
and happy winners rise and make their choice
from awful gifts gift-wrapped upon the table.
It's late before we bid our fond farewells
to gentlemen who gather once a month
and share Masonic camaraderie
that happily inspired this little poem.
Alison Cassidy
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/masonic-christmas-party-2006/
