Our tale begins one gloomy morning
As Frida says: "I'm feeling blue;
I have an unspeakable yearning
For what? - I haven't a clue."
"I have the most terrible head ache
I don't enjoy food nor a drink;
The nights I spend lying awake
I guess what I need is a shrink."
But her son John
Soon hits upon
A better treatment for her migraine.
"If you'll just listen
What you are missin'
I to you will gladly explain."
"You devote all your spare hours
Great-grandchildren to inspect;
In between, you attend showers
But your bridge game you neglect."
"It's lack of bridge that for your illness bears the blame
Why don't you call your friends and ask them to a game
And leave the planning of more babies to the stork
In Chapel Hill, Toronto and New York."
"Goodness me, dear son, what sort of talk is this?
Do you think playing bridge is my idea of bliss?
Anytime I play I do it - can't you tell?
To help my dearest friends their thirst for bridge to quell.
"But since you insist
I will not resist;
Giving you some pleasure
Is what I most treasure;
Wherefore I resolve I will an effort make
To play some bridge next week, but only for your sake.
Without further delay
She picks the joyous day
Then phones friends near and far away
So long as they know how to play
To come and join the fray.
"Please join me for a game on Sunday afternoon at three
All the girls will be here, oh I hope you are free;
Enna, Hella, Mariann will all be coming too
Hanny and Alice, plus the rest of our crew."
"You can come? That is great;
See you then - it's a date;
Please be sure you are not late!
That's settled then, we're playing bridge on Sunday in our house
I'm so glad you can come; best regards to your dear spouse."
The chorus swells from south and north
From east and west the call goes forth:
"We'll come, we're planning to attend
We wouldn't miss this grand event."
Dear Frida, put your mind at rest
Your friends are marching four abreast:
Strong, keen, their eyes ablaze and muscles flexed
All set their bridge to test at your behest.
Finally the day is here
Let us give a lusty cheer
The luncheon dishes disappear
To make sure the coast is clear.
Cards and tables are in place
Wish our clock would speed its pace.
When at last the doorbell rings
Our Frida hap'ly sings:
"Welcome dear friends and neighbours
I'm glad you're here at last.
Quick let's begin our labours,
The time is fleeing fast."
And now we're under way,
No gossip please, let's play.
Three hearts! Four spades! I double!
Oh dear, we are in trouble.
My partner is a twit
It's clear our hands don't fit;
Her bridge game is so awful
Sometimes I wish she'd quit.
At five o'clock they take a break
To sample the repast;
The tea and coffee, cookies, cake
All vanish mighty fast.
A player glances at the clock
And says she'll have to run;
"You can't do that !" they cry in shock,
"The party's just begun."
"Do be a sport
And stay for one more game,
To cut it short
Would be a wicked shame.
You're not the kind
That do from duties shrink."
She says, "all right but bear in mind
It's later than you think."
And when the friends are fin'ly gone I silently declare
That playing bridge is for our home a gift beyond compare;
Frida is healthy once again, so now we can be sure
T'was lack of bridge that caused her pain,
We've found the perfect cure.
So raise your glass, and join me in a cheer
To our beloved and gorgeous Frida dear;
May she enjoy, in health from year to year
The game of bridge which is for her a magic elixir.
