Dr. Jelly

by Elizabeth Siegfried

He came to call one day,
Unannounced and unknown,
An ex-vaudevillian turned veterinarian
He talked about cows
Though his name was Dr. Jelly
His talent was shortbread.

And the piano
He played the old songs
And danced around the room
Waving his cane and
Grinning through his dentures
We watched the light reflect
Off his Brilliantined hair.

He once brought two cousins
A minister and wife
She was blind
He was a flirt
They joined him in revelry
With a hymn thrown in.

For years and years 
He came to see us
And always
When dinner was done
Rising out of his chair
With arms extended
He sang.

“We’ll meet again
Don’t know where
Don’t know when
But I know we’ll meet again 
Some sunny day.”

There came a time
We did not meet again
He did not come back to call
To sing his songs
To tell his tales

Yet I fondly recall
His Cheshire cat grin
His dance steps and whimsy
As his limericks linger 
Within these cottage log walls
We still faithfully follow 

His recipe for shortbread.