Slim Leopard Files - HER NAME SHE SAID WAS ELSIE

HER NAME SHE SAID WAS ELSIE

HER NAME SHE SAID WAS ELSIE.
SHE LIKED KNITTING IN THE SITTING ROOM SHE'D SAY, SHE HAD NO TIME FOR T.V BUT THE WIRELESS ALWAYS HELPED HER THROUGH THE DAY.
HER HUSBAND DIED FIVE YEARS AGO AND LEFT HER TO THE WINTER SNOW ALONE, BUT NOW SHE GOT A BOYFRIEND BILL SHE DOES'NT LIKE TO LIVE THERE ON HER OWN.

ON MONDAY SHE DOES BINGO AND ON TUESDAY SHE'S AWAY TO A HOUSE AROUND THE CORNER WHERE HER SISTER ALICE STAYS.
THEY LIKE TO SIT AND NATTER 'BOUT THE CHANGES IN THE AREA, AND HOW YOU CA'NT GO OUT AT NIGHT, AND HOW THE YOUNG ONES DRINK AND FIGHT, AND HOW THEY MAKE HER CRINGE WITH FRIGHT, AND HOW THE WORLD IS FALLING DOWN HOW EVERYTHING IS SCARIER.
ON WEDNESDAY SHE GOES SHOPPING.
ELSIE HARDLY EVER BAKES, THERE'S A BAKERS ON THE CORNER AND IT'S EASIER FOR CAKES.

SHE'S NOT TOO BAD AT WALKING, BUT SHE ALWAYS FEELS THE COLD.
SHE'S REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE FOR EIGHTY THREE YEARS OLD, TWO WARS AND DEPRESSIONS AND A CAST OF SOLID PEOPLE WERE HER WORLD.

SHE'S NOT TOO BAD AT WALKING, BUT SHE ALWAYS FEELS THE COLD.
SHE'S REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE FOR EIGHTY THREE YEARS OLD, TWO WARS AND DEPRESSIONS AND A CAST OF SOLID PEOPLE WERE HER WORLD.

SHE LOVES THE ROYAL FAMILY AND ALWAYS HAS HER HAIR DONE UP IN CURLS.
ON THURSDAY WRITES A LETTER TO HER BROTHER, QUICK BEFORE THE POST AT THREE.
ON FRIDAY ERNIE PICKS HER UP AND TAKES HER TO THE LENDING LIBRARY.
SHE LIKES TO READ ON SATURDAY, SHE ALWAYS LIKES TO READ A GOOD OLD THRILLER, PICKS OUT BITS AND PIECES FROM THE STORIES ALWAYS TELLS ME SHE'S A KILLER.

JUST BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY SHE TOLD ME: "GOD'S BEEN GOOD TO ME. I'VE LIVED AN HONEST LIFE, I PRAY, BUT PEOPLE LAUGH AT THAT TODAY."

WRITTEN IN THE AUTUMN OF 1983

POEM113 slim
photo jim

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