With grateful thanks to T S Eliot (The Waste Land) and The Book of Wisdom 4: 7-15
‘He was a good bloke Lil,
but he pegged out quick like,
but at least he ’ad a good time,
and ’e’ll be well outta all this.’
‘Too right! It’s not how long
you stick around but the larks
you have along the way.
Who wants to live to a ripe
old age, sinless but dry as a
Camels arse and as dead
as an old man’s grey hairs.’
‘He tried ’ard ta please, and ’e
was loved, in a way, but ’e took
some shite. He did good considrin’
then snuffed out like a candle.’
‘The good die young; that’s what
they say, Lou. But they don’t get it; most folk.
He’s in a better place now, no mistake.’
‘Ta ta, Lil.’
‘Ta ta, Lou.’
‘TIME LADIES PLEASE!’