Banks

South, West, Left, First National.
Also the children from Mary Poppins, I recall:
Jane and Michael.
An allusion to the profession of the father,
Absent, invisible behind the thick stone walls.
Meaning shoring up, storing up, standing forth, keeping safe.
Protecting.
What would she do, that mockingbird magician, for these other Banks, the ones of the stern BBC broadcast?
Left. World. South. West.
Also meaning edge, perimeter, threshold.
Crossing.
If you don’t scold or dominate us, we will never give you cause to hate us
Their torn appeals reborn in the fireplace coals, mended by her hands
Must be kind and must be witty/very sweet and very pretty
Her carpetbag big enough to pack away all their adolescent wars;
Jane, Michael, World, West.
Banks.
And for each, a silver spoonful of crystal-white sugar
To help the medicine go down.