MRS BROWN
My poor ears
were assaulted
so I put on
my coat
( an old grey one)
and slipped
quietly
out of the house.
I walked
slowly,
(no one saw me)
and I whistled
(no one heard me),
and I kept walking;
When I reached
the viaduct,
there was Mrs Brown
(the gossip).
she was wearing
pink night wear.
She was
putting out
the bins
(and looking very cold).
Mrs Brown
looked up
and saw me
and beckoned me
with her bony finger.
I gave her my
‘How nice to see you’
smile;
and she started
talking
and talking.
I mumbled
and nodded
at the right times,
(I’ve no idea what
she was talking about).
and then
she asked:
‘How are you?’
I told her
my prostate
was playing up
(quick thinking on my part)
and I said
‘I need a wee’
(I didn’t really).
Well
it worked
I managed
to get away
and I went back home
(where I slumped in my armchair0
and my wife
(who sat beside me)
started talking about
(guess what),
yes
Mrs Brown
( the gossip).
Michael Edwards © March 2018