Poem for Joanne and Marge

By Marcie Ferris

It was many years ago
When we first met
At a WBOL meeting
I will never forget

A mutual friend
introduced us that night
We all sat together
In the fading light

Getting acquainted
was a noisy affair
Our table so loud
the others did stare

Who was who?
I need a game
It’s easier that way
to remember a name

“Manhattan Marge
the tall one of the pair
and “Jewelry Joanne”
had a head of gray hair

I learned they were lovers
and partners for life
But will someone please tell me
which one is the wife?

So from that first meeting
a friendship began
We had no idea
the years it would span

We’d meet at Art’s
on Wednesday nights
Talking and laughing
in between bites

We’d sit at our table
sometimes swatting at flies
then moving around
to avoid smoke in our eyes

Joanne would be talking
and Marge would butt in
You’re telling it wrong
and so it’d begin

She would finish her story
as Marge sat with a pout
while thinking she knew not
what she was talking about

I learned more about them
and our friendship did grow
These two wonderful womyn
I am so lucky to know

To dine and dash
seems to work for us
No one is worried
if we are in a rush

“Bottom feeders,” I call them
are the best kind of friends
It will get eaten tomorrow
on that you can depend

Our homes are a place
that are a safe harbor
What happens amongst us
stays in Glen Arbor

The cooking is done
by Joanne with finesse
with Marge right behind her
cleaning up the big mess

Joanne is self taught
in numerous skills
She creates wonderful websites
then sends out the bills

Marge, you might think
doesn’t know how to cook
But her salmon cakes and meatloaf
are ones for the book!

She has no knowledge of things
that no one else knows
She is smart and methodical
without fancy clothes

For many years
they belonged to no groups
Staying at home
like a couple ole poops!

When asked to join in
they’d say no with a smile
Managed to keep
a low profile

Now they’ve come a long way
There’s no holding them back
The calendar’s full
and for friends they don’t lack

They’re out of the closet
They are out of their shell
And those that don’t like it
can go “straight” to hell!

You may see Joanne
at the book group at night
or out taking pictures
in this land of delight

She’s been known to sip wine
with more than one group
It helps the business
to stay in the loop!

They both have jobs
for our Chamber now too
as if they had nothing
better to do

Marge takes in the money
for the dinner meetings
making all feel welcome
with her friendly greetings

She’s also been seen
sweeping streets in our town
making quite certain
no one gets out of bound

Glen Arbor is better
because of these two
They bring us diversity
which to some is brand new

Part of my family
they have surely become
gathering with us
to join in the fun

To keep things alive
another woman joined in
I introduced them to Pinkie
and then the games did begin

She took on a life
all of her own
Now she’s staying at Sally’s
and that is her home

And then I found
a new little gal
We thought that Arthur
needed a pal

I told them I knew
of a special black kitten
And when they met her
they would be instantly smitten

So off we went
Joanne and I
Marge wouldn’t come
we weren’t sure why

Joanne, you just pick one
and go in my place
“Oh, don’t worry, honey,
just look at her face”

Did you bring a carrier
for this black ball of fur?
“Sure, I said,
I am looking at her!”

Joanne held her close
so she couldn’t roam
I knew for sure
Agatha had a good home

Arthur soon died
He was old and frail
But his spirit lives on
in a dike named Abigail!

She’s big and food-driven
not a feminine trait
in a household as hers
it’s hard to be straight

There’s many more tales
I could mention here now
But sooner or later
I have to end this somehow

Their friendship has meant
more than words can describe
I am lucky to know them
and I can say that with pride