Login   Sign Up 



 

You Know Her

by poemsgalore 

Posted: 08 March 2004
Word Count: 237
Summary: This is meant to be read as though you are listening to one side of a conversation.


Font Size
 


Printable Version
Print Double spaced


You Know Her

"You know her.
She lived upstairs in the third floor flat
and always wore a turquoise hat.
Remember last summer:
that knee length skirt
and sandals that looked as though they hurt?
Her feet were purple
with flaky nails
and her hair hung down in limp rat's tails.
You know her!
I wish I could remember her name
but I'm sure you know her just the same
with that huge denim bag
with a hole in the side
and the turquoise hat
with a brim that was wide,
you know her.
You must remember that awful laugh
that made her sound like a sick giraffe -
yes I know giraffes don't make a sound
but you know what I mean -
oh never mind,
but you know her,
yes, you know her.
Well just last week they found her - dead.
Took too many pills
or so they said:
mixed with Whisky - or was it Gin?
Well anyway, it seems a sin
that someone can go
all alone, just like that,
and she was still wearing that turquoise hat!
The room was a mess;
I heard them say.
When the council find out
there'll be hell to pay.
Like something you see on 'Life of Grime',
oh I think it all is such a crime.
So you do remember -
she owed you ten quid?
Yes you knew her.
I said you did!"






Favourite this work Favourite This Author


Comments by other Members



roovacrag at 19:27 on 08 March 2004  Report this post
Kathleen,brill poem.
"Yes i remember her from upstairs"
Cheered me up made me laugh. Like sitting on a bus and listening in to other peoples conversation.
Well written.
Good one love.
xx Alice

igbit33 at 20:47 on 08 March 2004  Report this post
An excellent poem, Kathleen. both humorous and poignant at the same time - quite an accomplishment!

Ig. xx

<Added>

How true the last three lines are.

<Added>

Oop, sorry - four.

olebut at 23:21 on 08 March 2004  Report this post
kathleen

yes when we get old we shall wear purple

excellant parady of so many conversations one slight hiccup when I read it which I think a comma and perhaps a new line will resolve

your version

all alone, just like that,
and she was still wearing that turquoise hat!


my suggestion

all alone, just like that,
and she was still wearing'
that turquoise hat!


just a thought

take care david







Lee Tee Vee at 08:51 on 09 March 2004  Report this post
Very sing-songy, a bit like Please Mr Gravedigger, which was a 60's song by David Bowie (though that was darker). Also a true reflection on society.

Lee


The Walrus at 09:08 on 09 March 2004  Report this post
Such an evocative picture you paint of her. Very vivid. Can see the turquoise hat. Works really well the format as a one sided conversation. Was engrossed overhearing it.

The Walrus

Adabells at 11:03 on 10 March 2004  Report this post
I could picture her! Sad but so true and I loved the sick giraffe image. Perhaps I am getting obsessed with animal imagery here because I think the last poem I commented on had voles in it that amused me too. (Note to self - stop focusing on the beasties!)

I have had very similar conversations with friends and all sorts of information comes out when trying to pin down a person remembered, the curious things you notice about someone, so this really works - well done.

Adabells

poemsgalore at 18:14 on 10 March 2004  Report this post
Many thanks, glad you all enjoyed it - and without missing the important issues behind it too. Issues such as people's attitude to someone with a mental illness, to their neighbours in general. But it was meant to amuse too.


To post comments you need to become a member. If you are already a member, please log in .