Waiting

That lady - just called to consulting room "D"
Arrived more than ten minutes later than me!
In hospitals, hanging round's what people do...
But from here, looks like somebody's jumping the queue.

If I dared, I would ask but there seems little use:
They'd just make up a reason, some half-baked excuse,
Like "There's lots of rooms running, and some move through faster."
Why is waiting, for me, such a total disaster?

Of the lines in a bank, why do I choose to join
The one where they're counting a suitcase of coin?
As for airports, they're guaranteed sources of stress:
Approaching the check-in, one tries to assess
Which passenger's passport is just out of date?
Whose luggage will be half an ounce overweight?
I opt and I know as I shuffle along
That, despite all that care, my decision was wrong.

So here, in this clinic, there's surely no doubt
Mine's the room no one goes in - or never comes out.

I could do with the loo or, for certain, I'll burst
But can't leave, in case someone goes sneaking in first.
Those magazines all look so dog-eared and dated,
Thumbed by those who, before me, have sat here and waited;
The recipes torn out, e'en now being cooked
By the bored, the frustrated...the great overlooked.

Still, there's one on the pile and it seems fairly new.
I'll just have a quick glance: nothing better to do......
Drat! They're calling my name! Now I'll never discover
If Sue stayed at home, or eloped with her lover!

R.I.P Billy

No more white hairs on the duvet.
No more "What's today's treat?" plea.
No more woof-and-tail-wag greeting,
No more, "Get off the settee!"

No more noises on the staircase
Of the softly leaping paw.
Now no company at bath time
Will come nudging through the door.

No more nuzzles for attention -
("I just want a bit of fuss.")
No more shadowing his people
'cause he needs to be near us.

No more bounding through the woodland...
Stops for sniffs along the street...
No more taking in the evening scents,
Nor licking someone's feet.


No more frenzy of excitement
Of a pal who's overjoyed...
Just an empty bed, an empty bowl,
An awful senseless void.

He was loyal. He was loving.
He was everybody's friend.
He was handsome. He was gentle,
And did not deserve his end.

Oh for one more chance to stroke that head,
Say, "Love you, little guy."
He was special. He was Billy....
....and we never said, "Goodbye."



Billy Penn, part of our family for more than 13 years, was
tragically run over yesterday afternoon. RIP best dog.