London Train

In one of those fogs of London

I boarded the East End train,

The mist was a yellow, evil smog

And then it began to rain.

I found a compartment, only two

To bother my peaceful ride,

And placed my case at my feet, in place

With my gold-blocked name outside.

The smell of the fog was drifting in

And burning my eyes and throat,

I said to the man, ‘Let fresh air in…’

He sat and buttoned his coat.

‘The air out there is as bad as in,’

He said with a scowl and stare,

‘You might be happy to sit and choke,

The window stays up, I swear.’

I leant well back, and looked at the girl

Who sat there, opposite me,

She wore her skirt right up to the hip,

I stared at her stockinged knee,

Her eyes were bright, an emerald green

But tears I saw on her cheek,

‘This fog,’ she muttered, and wiped them dry,

‘I think it was worse last week.’

‘But London’s always suffered from fog,’

I ventured, ‘Back in the day,

The Ripper used it to hide his crimes,

He used it getting away.’

‘Overblown,’ he said, the man in the coat,

‘There’s many was worse than he,

The blood ran thick in the gutters here

At times in our history.’

‘But he’s the one who never got caught,

You must at least give him that.’

The man slunk down in his corner seat,

Then sat, and played with his hat.

The girl just smiled, and said in a while,

I think you’re right, he’s the one,

I wouldn’t like, on a foggy night

To meet him, minus a gun.’

The man reached into his overcoat

And seized the girl with a sigh,

Holding a cut-throat razor to

Her throat, with a smile so sly.

‘I said I’d never do this again

But I must admit, I lied,

I noticed the name on your carry case,

You’re Jekyll, I see - I’m Hyde!’

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Valentine]

You BRAT! I was totally expecting him to get that train window open and wham, Jekyll and Hyde. You totally drew me in and then surprised me. I just found this, had no request. Are you mad at me?????? {smiling} Valentine

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahah what a tale to read ..great twist in ending ..thoroughly enjoyed ...clever indeed sir!
E.