The original concept of this poem was nothing more than a sick desire to start something with the line "Twas early in the month of May". Usually I start with titles but I had sung too many madrigals at the time.

A cultural reference: Ajax is a well-known Australian brand of abrasive cleanser.

Aunt Mathilda

'Twas early in the month of May
When Aunt Matilda came to stay
She looked prepared to stay a year;
A truck arrived with all her gear.

A potted palm, a parrot too,
A spinster she at forty-two.
In our spare room she bedded down,
And gave the dust a baleful frown.

A well-run house we live in now.
No spot of dirt will she allow.
But now my dear and heartfelt yen
Is for some chaos now and then.

It's not for me to say precisely
Why she came, or whether nicely
Asked, she'd go, and promptly leave us,
Or even for a while reprieve us.

I plot revenge both day and night,
Though probably I'll lose the fight.
A bit depressing are the sad facts:
Alone against a tin of Ajax.