Nobody told her - a poem inspired by a woman at the last event of the Ted Hughes Festival

Nobody told her…
that a white woolly hat
is not the correct gear for a gala concert.

Nobody told her…
that you are not allowed
to sing along
with the orchestra.

Nobody told her…
there was nothing
in the programme to warn you
that dancing to the music…
would be tutted at.

Nobody told her…
not a suggestion
that giving little whoops of delight
between movements
was not allowed.

Nobody told us either
so why did we dress up
so why didn't we sing
so why didn’t we dance
so why didn’t we give whoops of delight?

Maybe next time.