Party

They said it had been
her best party yet, she had outdone
herself.
the fireworks had made them 'ooh'
and 'ahh',

the company had been delightful,
they said,
the company had been charming,

and the drink had flowed even more freely
than last time, than they had hoped
(they said 'of course
that meant we drank
far too much':
laughing, claimed
it had made it all the better)

they said it was impossible
for anyone to ask more
from such a festive occasion,
not one word more.

and she smiled warmly as they left,
smiled until the coat rack
and the hat-stand were bare again.

she smiled after them,
and waved at each car from her little
rectangle of light.

Stepping back into the alcoholic warmth,
the deserted living room, untidy,
Picking up a wine glass still half full,

the silence reminded her how alone she had been
since the last party,
and how alone she would be
until the next,

and glitter ran in her tears,
making the wine twinkle
in the glass she now realised
was half empty after all.