AUNTY MABEL: ENERGY VAMPIRES

Aunty Mabel lived to be
One hundred-and-two years of age,
While your relatives all died.

"How sad," she would say
"When your children die first,
"And you have to live on."

At first, people believed
The grief Aunty Mabel showed,
Whenever her children died.

First Maude died at thirty,
John and Gillian went soon after,
Then Gillian's daughter, Jayne.

But still, Aunt Mabel lived
Through her seventies, eighties, nineties,
As though she were a carrier.

A carrier of some illness
That killed everyone around her,
Leaving Aunty Mabel untouched.

But as she reached ninety
And all her children were dead,
People started to wonder.

"She's a vampire!"
Cried her grandson, Maurice, having
Buried his mum that day!

"Don't be silly, dad!"
Said Maurice's daughter, Alicia,
Although she sounded unsure.

But then the following year
Maurice followed his mother, Doris,
Dead at just fifty-four.

And Alicia began to wonder
If somehow Aunty Mabel could,
Really be a vampire?

As Aunty Mabel lived on
Her children slowly withered away,
As though they were plagued.

"Like the victims of vampires,
"With a slow withering illness,
"As their blood is drained!"

But despite Alicia's claims
Tests on her father proved that,
He had no blood missing.

Still, Alicia wondered
How her father seemingly healthy,
Could die suddenly, so young?

Then Alicia herself died
As did her sons David and Joe,
Leaving Aunty Mabel alone.

So selling up her house
At a hundred-and-two years old,
Mabel went into a home.

"Hello, Mrs. Robertson,"
Greeted Aged Care Assistant, Gladys,
With a Mainland Colby accent.

"You're a New Zealand?"
Asked Aunty Mabel in a strong voice,
"How did you know?" asked Gladys.

At first, Mabel did well
In her new environment, although,
The other residents died.

Just like in hospitals
In age care facilities,
The death rate is always high.

But after Aunty Mabel arrived
The residents started to die faster,
For a while almost one a day.

But gradually Aunty Mabel
Began to fade and slow down as well,
Her strong voice became frail.

The other residents still died
But Aunty Mabel herself was dying now,
And soon she was dead.

Within just four months
Of moving into the care home,
Aunty Mabel had died.

"She seemed so strong,"
Said Gladys, "As though she could,
"Almost live forever."

"She was a vampire!"
Swore Old Mary, her own sister
Having died there that week.

Gladys shook her head
Sad that people could be so cruel,
"Poor Mrs. Robertson."

Even the ones you love
Sap your strength and health,
Just like vampires of old.

THE END
© Copyright 2021, Philip Roberts
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia