JUST BEFORE BREAKFAST.

[dadio]

It was just before breakfast time
and the old man was lying
on the carpet before the fire
he was semi clothed (decent)

and you and your sister
sat on the sofa
looking at him
do you think he’s fainted?

your sister asked
you told her
go ask mother
and she did

meanwhile you sat
and watched him lying there
thinking maybe
there’d be no school

if he had died
or had to go
to the hospital
maybe you wouldn’t see

Miss Ashdown in class
and she wouldn’t ask you
questions about maths
or science you glanced

out the window and saw
a train go by on the rail track
over the way
steam lingered

where the train
had been and it hung
in the grey sky
like a sick ghost

what you lying there for?
Mother asked
your old man
I haven’t got time for this

she added
and went out
the room
to get breakfast

and he stirred
and looked up at you
and smiled weakly
and got up

and walked off
like an actor
failing an audition
so there would be

school today
you thought
and Miss Ashdown
with her fat arms

and dark eyes looking
through her glasses
peering at you
would ask her

dumb ass questions
about science
or maths
and there’d be

the bottle of milk
at playtime
with the tubby woman
in the hat

warming it
by the radiator
and saying
get your milk

you got to get your milk
and all because
your old man
failed his audition

to get off work
with his pretend illness
out in the kitchen
voices were raised

and pans slammed down
where was Jesus
or Santa Claus
or the Coco the Clown?

[justwalt]

don't know bout Jesus or Santa, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13IlSwVE ... ata_player

[dadio]

Thank you, Justwalt. Coco why?

[the mingo]

[dadio]

Thank you, the mingo.