POOR MABEL

POOR MABEL
I worried about poor Mabel
She’d seemed rather strange for a while
To concentrate she’d been unable
but sat with a permanent smile.

I’d known her for many and many a day.
A kind gentle person was she.
We frequently met in the local café
to chat over afternoon tea.

Whenever I saw her she looked neat and smart
. Her clothes were so trim and in style
A lady I knew with a very big heart
And a warm and affectionate smile.

But lately I’ve noticed her looking a mess
She hasn’t seemed well for a while.
There were food stains all over the front of her dress.
But she still had her radiant smile.

She staggered and swayed and her speech was quite slewed
She tripped as she walked down the aisle.
Had problems in finding her mouth with her food
But still she continued to smile.

The last time I saw her she said “I’m not well
Things haven’t been right for a while.
But still I keep cheerful and as you can tell
I still greet each day with a smile.

When they broke down the door she was lying in bed.
Gin empties stood in a pile.
She’d died from cirrhosis or so it was said
But still she lay there with a smile.

There was widespread disgust at what she had done
They called it an utter disgrace
My friend who’d enjoyed life was turned ninety-one
And had died with a smile on her face.