Ann and Mary

There were two girls who were siblings
They were so unlike each other
It was hard for anyone to believe
They were born of the same mother

One felt she was God's gift to the world
She was a stunning beauty
Every man around her little finger she twirled
To serve her was his duty

She looked like Aphrodite
She acted high and mighty
Her God-given assets, sure looked so fine
And over the years caused, countless hearts to pine

"I do deserve in life, nothing but the best
 I have no time at all, for all of the rest
I am worthy of the finest, any man can give
If he ever dreams that, with him I should live

I'm worthy of the best just being me
Would you just take a look?
I'm a Princess, can't you see?
Don't expect me to cook!

If any man expects, to have me at his side
He must be Adonis, and able to provide
A lifestyle that I expect
And the highest respect

He must be strong and gentle
And always very kind
Not quite sentimental
Or I might change my mind."

She was bewitchingly haughty
And enticingly naughty
To love her meant she be adored
Else she was too easily bored

If she dropped something, she waited for the man,
To pick it up off the floor for her
She would not stoop or stretch, she waited for the man
He had always had to open the door for her

Now, the other sister, Ann
She looked a little ordinary
She rarely caught the eye of a man
When she stood next to Mary

Ann had no airs about her
She really was quite simple
The only thing special about her
Was a tiny dimple

It graced her little chin
She wasn't very fair
She looked a bit too thin
And had mousy hair

Ann walked around, with an awkward gait
While hoity-toity Mary, strutted like a model
Mary had fancy curls, Ann a simple plait
Mary sang sweetly, Ann could only yodel

There was never very much
That Ann ever demanded
She accepted life as such
And she was left-handed

She worked hard for everything she had
She slaved away for years
And through the times both good and bad
She bravely hid her tears

Ann worked hard, yet often gave up
The things that she had earned
While Mary never had to save up
"Just Ask and Get" she learned

Yet, both deep in their hearts
For true love did crave
They each had many false starts
Could not find one so brave

Brave enough to commit for life
Brave enough to take them for a wife
The men that the sisters dated
Usually were soon intimidated

Some by the haughty beauty
Some by the plainness of Ann
There was not one among them
That was truly a worthy man

The years kept rolling by
And the girls were getting old
Just when it seemed, one might click
Someone's feet was getting cold

Until one day, along came
One rich handsome fellow
James Earl III was his name
He was by nature mellow

He worked as an engineer
A BMW was his carriage
His face had a permanent sneer
He was much sought in marriage

He was a most eligible catch
For all the girls in town
They all felt he'd be a perfect match
And this he had known

He went through dating them, one by one
But he was by nature wary
He barely escaped the clutches of one
When he started dating Mary

In first approaching him herself, Mary had condescended
As soon as she came to know, his previous love had ended
It seemed at first, he was a typical man
He attended to Mary and, mostly ignored Ann

He was quite nice, and polite to all
Though he did not talk very much at all
He seemed of a nature, quiet and deep
And his own counsel, he preferred to keep

He talked straight, and never did lie
Nothing ever seemed, to escape his eye
He was sure of himself, and in very good health
He was quite generous, but understated his wealth

Until now,  All of Mary's suitors
Really had to compete
To outdo each other in deeds
And lay great offerings at her feet

James however, seemed to take
An approach quite contrary
He seemed to be, in some rare moments
A male reflection of Mary

It drove her quite crazy sometimes, that she had to swallow her pride
If she ever wanted to make real, her dream of being his bride
She covered up her feelings, in fake and loud laughter
Just wait for the wedding, she figured,"I'll teach him a lesson after"

As soon as she felt that she had, their relationship in a groove
Mary wasted no time at all, in boldly making her move

She really did not want, this one to get away
She was quite determined, to have him - come what may

So, she cornered him, after dinner, late
One starry, moonlit night
Gave him an ultimatum for a wedding date
They got into a fight

The ease, calm and confidence with which
He dismissed her deadline
Brought out at that moment, her inner bit*h
Then she crossed the line

To his reasons she wouldn't listen
Her disappointment too great
Her eyes began to glisten
And her voice began to grate

She gave vent to her anger
And let loose with her tongue
Words that never crossed a lady's lips
She cared not if they stung

Now, James was quite shocked by this
But he still kept his cool
He realised that until now,
She'd played him for a fool

As her face flushed and turned quite red
He smiled calmly, laughed and said
"Girl, You sure are a cutie,
But for me, way too snooty.

Surely you shouldn't harry
The one you expect to marry
I thank you for all this, and I wish you well
For I know that you've saved, me from certain hell."

Mary stormed inside, ran to her room
Fire in her breath and eyes in tears
Shortly they all heard, James' car go vroom
She never saw him for a couple of years

And then in a few days,
The sisters parted ways
Each out on her own
But in the same town

To lead a spinster's life
Was the worst of all their fears
They hoped to become someone's wife
And thus spend their years

One day, Mary got a letter,
It was from her sister Ann
She wrote "My life's now better
And I have met this man.

I really have no idea,
How this relationship will go
If it gets serious,
I'll soon let you know."

A few weeks later, the postman brought,
Mary a lovely card,
Reading it, she became distraught
The news, to bear, was hard

"I'm getting married, to this lovely man.
I wanted you to know," wrote her sister Ann,
"He wants to wed me, and is really sweet.
He surely wants to lay, the whole world at my feet.

I was not sure a while ago,
Now, I'm sure he's the one,
I'm certain that next to him,
I've now, a place in the sun,

I call him 'Gems' and he calls me his 'Pearl'
You already know him, he is James Earl."

Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016

All rights reserved