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Stood outside the betting shop
White knuckled fist of cash
Taken from my naive wife's
Secret hidden stash
Eager for the first race
Adrenalin pumping fast
My nags a crippled donkey
Everything's going past
Just a minor set back
I can take the sting
Gambler winning every bet
afraid there's no such thing
A tenner on the next one
And I'll be on my way
God it's even slower
Well it's one less bill to pay
Fifty on the last one
A beauty named 'milk float'
What... it's been overtaken?
I think I'll get my coat
Not a penny to my name
Better head off home
Tell my wife I'm on my way
But they've cut off the phone
Son is wearing slippers
Moans his shoes are tight
He should get a part-time job
Lazy little shite
Daughter likes to flash the cash
That's how she gets her kicks
I convinced her yesterday
Into turning tricks
Said I'd tell her mother
unless i get some green
You can earn a tidy sum
On this pimping scene
Walked into the house
no one to be seen
just a letter on the desk
What does this all mean?
Selfish bitch has left me
Said she "had to flee"
Nothing in the oven
Not even made my tea
I can't understand
What is it that I've done?
Always done my best
For
Mother
Daughter
Son
They'll come running back
I'm off now for a flutter
One foot in the bookies
The other in the gutter
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Wow! First off, the structure and form is great! I also love how this flowed so well..the rhymes were just right, not too much, not too little. The sadness coupled with humor says a lot about how some people handle their problems. Well-written overall. =)
What a great insight into addiction and it's wider impact. the protaganist (SIC!) came across as self deluded and selfish, it definately hit the crux of the matter I think. I thought the format of the second to last verse was very effective although the last two lines of the poem had the most resonance: 'One foot in the bookies/ The other in the gutter.'
Hello David, where've you been. I enjoyed this the first time I read it but it is still a good, well written thought out piece. It's quite sad in its story but also funny. It's a lofty classic. Well done.
