Darjeeling and the best bone-china,
reserved for special times like these...
ensconced in our front room – reminiscing
with friends, remembering the old days.
The doorbell rings. I go...
A bloke in the porch from Anglian Water,
or so he had me believe; a leak, reported
by a neighbour; he barges in – urgent-like,
to turn off our supply.
If I was thinking, I’d have recalled
that the stopcock’s in the driveway.
It didn’t dawn on me at all; not
till the wife said, later.
In the time it takes to boil a kettle...
for him to start a chat, cuppa in hand,
about West Ham’s relegation – his mate,
who I never did see the goings of, nips
down our sideway – jemmies open
a back window. The rest’s history.
Our bedroom – trashed. That night,
we flounder; end up beached in our own
front-room – staring at the ceiling.
“Close your eyes,” I tell her. She whispers
she hears something outside.” Funny –
I do too. “Try and get some sleep, love.
It's only the wind.'
‘It happened so quick, love. Forgive me,’
says some silly old fart who used to be a man,
I tell her in a kiss. So what? Even if she did,
I would never forgive myself.
The police said they’d do all they could;
try to trace my naval medals – but not
to hold out hope for the cash we’d saved
for Christmas.
Yet again, suppose we got it back, twofold,
it would never replace what they took...
When you’re pushing ninety, and the missus
is eighty-two, and it’s just an ordinary,
Monday afternoon.
Comments
Juliet OC | November 12, 2009 - 19:53
that last verse is poignant because it is restrained. Not a tear in sight. Not sure I get the line after kiss - too many 'forgives' and made me stumble. You know me can never leave alone, have to offer advice :) it's probably fine as it is.
Juliet x
Silver Spun Sand | November 12, 2009 - 20:16
Hi, Juliet - we meet again;-)
As to 'offering advice', I guess that's what we're all after on ABC, and I thank you for it.
As to the line you mention, it just means that whether his wife forgave him or not, was irrelevant if he could never forgive himself for his foolishness.
Of course, in reality, he's just flesh and blood, like the rest of us and we all make mistakes...me, more than most.
My thanks to you for reading and taking the time and trouble to comment in such a constructive way.
Have a peaceful, but enjoyable, evening. You and yours, of course.
Tina x
Cavalcaderl | November 13, 2009 - 01:39
New Silver-spun-sand
Many comngratulations
on well earn't cherry!
all your work is brill:
hope your well x hope get out soon.
neck improving spec;cream.
julie x cavalcader (:-
Silver Spun Sand | November 13, 2009 - 09:00
Hello, Julie. Good to hear from you. I'm fine, except it's bucketing down here today. Hope you have got some sunshine.
Thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed it.
Tina :-)x
sarah wilson | November 13, 2009 - 09:22
I think I may have seen a similar poem by you before. Is this an edit? If so it is perfect now, poignant and an extremely sad indictment of life today. Well deserved cherry xx
Silver Spun Sand | November 13, 2009 - 09:45
Hi there Sarah.
Yes, you are quite correct. I wasn't happy with the original so I rewrote and retitled it.
Sometimes, stepping back from a situation which one feels strongly about, helps put things in a better perspective.
So glad you got something from it, and I so appreciate your telling me.
Have a peaceful weekend;-)
Tina x
tcook | November 13, 2009 - 11:03
And this version is a lot better than the first one.
richielee70 | November 13, 2009 - 11:26
loved it , you are so talented
Silver Spun Sand | November 13, 2009 - 12:05
Thank you, kindly sir. Curtsies;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | November 13, 2009 - 12:06
You ain't so bad yourself, richie...But thank you, very much.
Tina
marionwozere | November 14, 2009 - 20:11
This is so natural and unstrained, it's beautiful. I really felt like I was listening to the narrator telling it in his own words but could see it unfolding at the same time. Great!
Silver Spun Sand | November 15, 2009 - 01:11
My thanks to you, marion.
Our next door neighbour is a good friend of ours, so writing this, was just a case of relating his experiences on that awful day.
I really appreciate your thoughts. They mean much.
Tina
Nathan Bednarek | November 17, 2009 - 22:03
A very interesting poem. It probably took you a while to write it. Very different from a lot of other poems I read recently. A well deserved cherry ;-)
Nathan xox
Silver Spun Sand | November 18, 2009 - 13:11
Yes, Nathan, this was one of 'those' poems, mostly because it was one I didn't want to have to write.
Word for word, this was the experience of our next door neighbours a few Monday's ago. Now, neither of them are sleeping or eating, and at nearly ninety, that is a tragedy.
My thanks to you for reading.
Tina xox
MistakenMagic | November 19, 2009 - 21:30
So sorry to hear about these events Tina - but I'm glad you're brave enough to write about it - and to get a cherry - that surely sticks two fingers up to those vile burglars!
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | November 20, 2009 - 09:30
You're not wrong there, dear Magic. Writing about things is quite therapeutic at times.
My thanks to you for reading;-
Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | November 23, 2009 - 17:03
Thanks for reading this one, Julie:-)
Yours is a wonderful story. Almost a miracle. Thank you for sharing.
Have a peaceful evening.
Tina x
Cavalcaderl | November 25, 2009 - 12:05
Silver-spun-sand
lost comment above;absolutely correct.
but never! never! really say and not on here!amount people had to have and deal with.past.xx
you'd be shocked!etc; etc;but some can't talk say do.Healing centre years later vicar speech said of war person kind of shell shocked never spoken,went into little shed hut room there never spoke and traumatised suddenly draw all and painted on wall and
spoke! what wonderful story.
I believe to give away what
ever, comes around goes around comes back so
many ways now.and I think you were **spinning
silver-spun web"; spider.was it angel's voice!
and rough weather and walk and shops!what a
wonderful evening! later.or was it t.cooks
shining knight in armour suit said polish someone's.
poem about lucky pen writing and got cherry!
bless+ you.thousand times.
julie x cavalcader (:-
Cavalcaderl | November 25, 2009 - 12:07
new Silver-spun-sand
Yes definitely I believe
in miracles eventually years
other church and healing there
every week all, I raed all books on people's lives and miracles happened and do to-day.to
one funny enough on name of new church only 7 years
one of them and he went and sat with person talked listened buckets tears eventually story she went to church. I told him.and gave copy almist written for me.Bye the way I sent long story back 3rd time to YOU
kept loosing it. re did I can't see all interesting
and asking poetry and wonderful luck.and may have your address gift still from weeks ago put by for you
all your brilliant help!and it's about mugs, poems,words.and future one nedd help with.and how
Tony came to-day more mugs and why, busy couldn't stop course.and said delete if thinks so.I cannot
put what want because names get my code; and alive.
and my family don't see to.Healing centres didn't know about, years later God;s didn't know have to pay
how silly I thought free.ec;Ray never stayed shame!needed him,but not religious in staying over me anywhere!
bless+ you.
julie xx