“Ode to Bellevue Women’s Club”
The line at the grocery store was very long.
The lady in front of me looked so forlorn,
we had lots of time for a casual chat.
We talked about this, and we talked about that.
She told me her name—in our town, she was new.
She was lonesome and had little to do.
At the risk of being annoying,
I spoke of a club she could be enjoying.
I want you to know what I said to her.
I began to explain. I hope you concur.
The programs are great and the food is delicious.
There is so much to do, if you feel ambitious:
three groups of bridge—grand slams galore,
an interesting book club, but wait there’s much more.
Bunco is fun; they have lots of laughs.
A talented member heads up Arts and Crafts.
She works very hard, and that’s what it takes.
Take a chance, win a centerpiece that she makes.
A new member coffee or tea, if you may
or a Mah Jong group, if you like to play.
There’s theatre, posted pictures, and happy hour too,
a roster with names and addresses for you.
You can go to the board meetings and out to lunch,
or meet once a month with a bead stringing bunch.
For luncheon, a phone call; hospitality’s fine—
a gourmet group welcomes you to dine.
The newsletter, so professional and wise,
our editor deserves a Pulitzer prize.
Though we have a membership chairman, an executive board,
most of the time, we are all in accord.
The lady responded with “thanks for the chat,”
but no club in the world could have all of that.
She is a little bit rude; that’s what I thought,
as she darted away with her shopping cart.
It’s a shame she didn’t know,
what I told her really was so.
There was one more thing I wanted to say,
so I tried to stop her, but she was well on her way.
Still, at our next luncheon, the tags with a name,
a name on one tag and her name were the same.
If you’re wondering just who this member might be,
it’s time to confess and now you will see.
The story’s not true about the lady in line.
I made it all up. It’s all in my mind.
But our Women’s Club part, that story is true:
the activities, the planning, and all that we do.
I’ll tell you right now what I’m thinking of
that’s far more important than all the above.
The one thing I failed to mention before
to the fictitious lady at the make believe store.
The one thing that stands out from all of the rest
is the FRIENDSHIPS we make. They are the best.
by Claylia LeBlanc, submitted by Barbara Turney Robbins
Claylia is, presently, a member of the group’s executive board and Recording Secretary.
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