“She Sharts Us” my sixteenth ekphrastic response for National Poetry Month prompted by another painting showing the vivacity of Marcel Herms.

“She Sharts Us”

Received English

Bawling Bertha
Loud Lucy
Foghorn Fanny

First time we met
she shouted me over
with “On your own.
You’ll do for me!”

She can’t keep anything quiet.
First night together she said

“You going to use that
small thing to have sex with me?”
so loud the rest of the street
could hear.

Then its ‘Yes, yes, yes!’
out open windows
she insisted on.

Carerwauling Kate
Loud Hailer Hettie
Sharting Cheryl

I’m speaking normal volume
and she says ” Speak up. I cannot
hear you. You’ll have to learn
to speak up.”

Visiting her mothers house
is a shoutin match.
Her father is deaf.
No bloody wonder!

She’s not quiet, my wife.

Dialect

Bawlin’ Bertha
Loud Lucy
Foghorn Fanny

First linking up
she sharts us o’er
wi a “On thee oan.
Tha’ll do for me!”

She can’t keep nowt stum
first shag it were
‘Tha gonna ‘ave us
wi that mouse!’
so rest of street
could hear.

Then its ‘Yes, yes, yes!’
out open windows
she insisted on.

Carerwaulin’ Kate
Loud Hailer Hettie
Shartin’ Cheryl

Am speakin’ normal
an she’s sayin “A can’t
hear thee. Tha’ll av to learn
to speak up.”

Visitin’ her mothers house
is a shartin’ match.
Her father is deaf.
No bloody wonder!

She’s not quiet, our lass.