She was never a dame or a broad

A cheap dime store marionette

Who dreamt of being Ava Gardener

Wooed by stage door Johnnies

She never wore tawdry tiredness and second hand furs

Never a lipstick smudge

Never a hair out of place

 

She was clever and complete

Saying never call me honey

You know I will stay with you

As long as you buy me those little treasures, I adore

Rings and things on chains in the deepest polished yellow

Real pearls that glisten and gently swing

 

And she would shine and she would sparkle

Like the jewellery she wore

Saying the right words in the right ears

To the right people

And she would win him over

As long as he held down the payments

On the house with the car and the pool

Not to close not too far from the neighbours

The socialites and the swells

 

Cocktails at five

And big-hearted open wallets

With jealous eyes and nervous drumming fingers

That was her version of love

Ever since she was ten

When she found the note

Got to go

I have had enough of strangling

And swallowing you up

I Love you honey dad

 

Now she wears the face of the pinup queen smile

That says

You can only handle the merchandise at a price

Be careful do not touch

Display only

This has taken years to assemble and recreate

And remember never

Never call me honey