My Cousin Betsy Mae
I never felt as worried
about anything as she did
about everything.
She knew that the worst
was bound to prevail in the end.
She couldn’t say, “I told you so”
because nothing turned out that bad,
but thought that “Expect the worst
and you won’t be disappointed.”
She was cheerful enough
in her pessimism to grin
about the problems we were in,
but she never had a doubt
disaster would come about.

Walt Abbott–11-28-08