Rag & Reed
John lived down in Haywood Lane
Beside the wood, the river's course
And walked each day to see Bernice
His dark-haired lady, for discourse.
She had a melancholy air
A sad and gloomy way with her
And questioned why life wasn't fair,
John never had much sway with her.
He'd argue through the early hours
And speak his love, implicitly,
But she would snap in anger then,
'Your love won't buy the bread for me.'
For seven years they'd to and fro'd
For she would leave, then ask him back,
While he would sit alone and grieve
At every trait that she'd attack.
She always spoke of breaking up
Of taking time out, making space,
Until the day he called on her
To find that he had been displaced.
A woman answered at the door,
And barred his entry as she spoke,
He'd never seen her face before
She wore a witches hat, and cloak.
'She doesn't want to see you now
She said it's over, go away!
Now we'll be looking after her,
You're finished, done! You've had your day! '
'We've been together seven years, '
He tried to say, but she was gone,
Had slammed the door right in his face
And of Bernice there was no sign.
He phoned her then, when he got back,
The voice that answered wasn't hers,
A grating, rasping voice had said,
'Stop phoning, you have been her curse! '
John asked around the village then
Just who this woman was, and more,
He found out there were two of them
Had moved in just the day before.
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poem by David Lewis Paget
Added by Poetry Lover
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