PLEASED AS PUNCH

I was pleased as Punch to see old Reg

The lad who sold the fruit and veg

And once gave me two tickets for the fight.

But Reg was sad, believe you me

He said he’d suffered tragedy

And he’d be glad to tell me through the night.

So I sat up with poor old Reg

Who told me that the fruit and veg

Was dropping off and trade was getting poor.

I yawned as he told tales to me

Of troubled times and poverty

And once threw up behind the kitchen door.

‘It’s very glum,’ I said at last

And thought my watch was running fast.

‘Is that the dawn that’s creeping up the sill?’

But Reg was well beyond all that

He only moaned and as we sat

I swear I heard a cock crow on the hill.

When finally he took his leave

I found it quite hard to believe

That this was Reg who used to buy me lunch.

All raggedy and bad from drink

It really, really made me think

How seeing him had made me pleased as Punch.

I’m a real fair-weather friend, me.