The Cupboard

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Mother: What's in that cupboard, Mary?

Mary: Which cupboard, mother dear?

Mother: The cupboard of red mahogany
With handles shining clear.

Mary: That cupboard, dearest mother,
With shining crystal handles?
There's nought inside but rags and jags
And yellow tallow candles.

Mother: What's in that cupboard, Mary?

Mary: Which cupboard, mother mine?

Mother: That cupboard stands in your sunny chamber,
The silver corners shine.

Mary: There's nothing there inside, mother,
But wool and thread and flax,
And bits of faded silk and velvet
And candles of white wax.

Mother: What's in that cupboard, Mary?
And this time tell me true.

Mary: White clothes for an unborn baby, mother..
But what's the truth to you?

© Robert Graves