Bill and Pete went up the town
To check things at the Rose and Crown
They made sure that the liquid flowed
And left with smiles and cheeks that glowed
Such happiness permeates this tale
With satisfaction from their ale
Walking home Pete said ‘Oh it’s nippy
Let’s go warm up inside the chippy’
They waited patiently in queue
Till someone shouted ‘what’s for you?’
‘Two cod and chips’ Bill pipes up, ‘please
And don’t forget the mushy peas’
So off into the night they strode
To find some place along the road….
….where they could stop and get stuck in….
….to greasy chip and battered fin
Bill then declared as they were talking
‘I cannot eat while I am walking
I want somewhere to park me bum
And feel the warmth go down me tum’
‘Too much info, thanks’ said Pete
‘Look, there’s a bus stop with a seat’
The shelter light, a friendly glow
Illuminating all below
‘Twas 12 a m, so there they sat
Both with scarf and woolly hat
Then Pete reflected, with a tear
‘I proposed to my wife, sat right here’
‘Don’t worry’ said Bill ‘for goodness sake
We’re all allowed one big mistake’
The chuckling twosome tore with pleasure
Into their bags of greasy treasure
Their hands upon the fish were poised
Just like two spoilt little boys
The air was filled with fun and chatter
With lots of vinegar and batter
‘Best fish shop around here’ said Pete
Dropping his peas about his feet
But disaster strikes, ‘Oh no’ says Bill
As he was going for the kill
Such pain ebbed from his suffering lips
‘Ain’t got no salt upon me chips !
Can’t eat this lot, it’s not me fault
I asked the bloke for lots of salt’
Both men stared blankly at the food….
….that lay just empty, saltless, rude
‘I can’t go on’ cried Bill, ‘I quit
Ain’t got no salt, and that is it’
His chip – mate, broken – hearted Pete
Shared his friend’s pain, in this defeat
The bus – stop has a deathly kiss
First was his wife, and now all this
The midnight meal had ceased to be
But things were not quite done you see
Insult, not salt was added to the night
When above them, pop, went out the light
Alone, unnourished, shell – shocked, still
At darkened bus – stop, Pete and Bill
Cold Pete dropped all the chips he bought
He was colder than a witch’s wart
End of story, what you say ?
Explain the moral here today
Simple isn’t it, there’s no doubt
Salt and light – can’t do without
(c) John M Sterry 2020