The Less than Perfect Gift

My husband went to help his folks

Move to their new address

He phoned me when they were in flow

With a panicking request

“We've just found out a problem

I'm sure that you can fix

Not one of the old curtains fits

So please, green velvet, six.

“Measuring roughly four by four

Full-y lined with beige

And get our girl to come by bus

And they really want them sage.”

So walking fast a mile up hill

I found a fabric shop

And bought the very heavy stuff

and home without a stop.

I sewed from noon till nearly nine

Felt the need of g and t's

Had way too much because I spilt

The dregs on the final piece

So I quickly washed and dried it too

But it shrank and faded some

Washing machine was filled once more

And in with the other one.

Next morning daughter, with a heavy case

Caught the last cross-country bus

Which contained the less than perfect gift

But the in-laws never sussed.