CHACHINNATE
(For the Flin Flon Writers Guild)
Have you ever chachinnated? I have a time or two,
Done it so hard that at one time I nearly turned blue,
I did it until tears ran and my sides ached as well,
And just after, it returned, why I really cannot tell.

One time I remember as we learned to square dance
We kept going the wrong way as around we did prance,
We landed up with the wrong partner, we were in a mess,
A bout of chachinnation came over us all I must confess.

In a café I saw a waitress slip, her tray went up in the air,
The ice cream and apple pie flew about, landed everywhere,
Not to chachinnate was impossible for those who were there,
Some chachinnated so hard, they went and fell off their chair.

I could not eat my dinner for it was such a funny sight to see,
The waitress face bright red as she did try quickly away to flee,
She ran into the maitre d’ who came to see what was happening,
The hilarity increased when he put his shiny shoe in a gooey thing.

I hope the waitress was not fired, we all left her a great big tip,
We all, as we left, told that it was not her fault that she did trip,
Even now as I just walk past that sedate little café I have to smile,
As I remember the incident and I chachinnate again for awhile.

(Millicent) Ann Margetson 22 March 2004