She looks at her hands for long stretches of time.
They keep her amused and content.
She pays little heed to the clock's hourly chime.
It's something to do during Lent.

They're like naked puppets, unable to hide,
There to be spied on by others,
A wedding night film of a groom and a bride
That's seen by their fathers and mothers.

She thinks that the future is there in a palm
Because it will show you the past,
Revealing a life of immense peace and calm,
Or a life of suspense lived too fast.

And she thinks the past is a trustworthy guide
To show what the future will hold.
It's nearly as sure as the change of the tide.
In past acts the future is told.

She made two glove puppets to clothe her bare hands,
Her right hand resplendent in white,
A grand bridal gown. The left understands
That she always favours the right.

The left hand's the groom. Jilly's right-handed.
Both hands are close to her heart.
Without the left groom the right bride would feel stranded.
They're rarely an arm's length apart.

If past acts can outline her future life's course,
Her boyfriend's inaction's a worry.
He can be silent for hours till he's hoarse.
To marry her he's in no hurry.

For ten years she's waited for him to propose.
On sporting fields he'll shout and curse.
He's like a great river when flood water flows.
With her he's a glacier or worse.

She needs to take matters into her hands.
She uses the bride and groom puppets.
The groom puppet looks quite content as it stands
Despite the fact her hand is up its

Newly-washed trousers. It's dressed to the nines.
The puppets act out a short play
In front of her boyfriend. He should see the signs
And ask the big question today.

The groom asks the bride if she'll do him the honour
Of taking his hand in marriage.
Without her he'd wither. He'd soon be a gonner.
He'll be a strong horse for her carriage.

The bride says she will and the two puppets kiss.
Jilly expresses her joy.
She says that their love will create wedded bliss
And a glove puppet girl or a boy.

Her boyfriend is briefly dumbfounded by that.
He pauses before he says this:
"Can my brother Anthony borrow your cat?"
Her answer won't trigger a kiss.

Her right hand is desperate to injure his head.
She tries very hard to restrain it.
She lets it attack the poor left hand instead.
Her boyfriend thinks he can explain it.

He thinks that she's ruling the cat idea out.
His question has just fallen flat.
It's bad for his brother, of this there's no doubt,
But it's certainly good for the cat.