"You Look Much Better Standing Up" - Royston Ellis

A poem about my encounter with Royston Ellis in Bentota, April 2013

You really don't know who I am,

do you?

No,

should I?

Good, good. That's better.

Here,

take my

Business Card.

 

Dinner.

Wine.

New Friends.

 

I'm sure one of The Beatles donated his house in Watford to the Hindu people.

 

Shut up!

Shut up!

You know nothing of what you're talking about.

You shouldn't believe everything that's written in the newspapers.

I know,

I grew up with them.

Just shut up!

 

You rude,

rude man.

How dare you tell me to shut up?

I am allowed my opinion.

Nobody speaks to me like that.

 

Chair.

Up.

Off.

 

Aha, I'm so pleased.

I thought it was only Sri Lankan's who argued like that

over the dinner table.

Nice to see some foreigners

doing it.

 

Thank you Hameed.

Sorry if I have offended.

But

I won't be spoken to

like that.

Not at all, he's had a lot to drink.

He knew them you see,

they were all very close.

 

Apologies

for

my

outburst.

 

Dessert.

Cognac.

Home bound.

 

Despite your outburst,

it was a pleasure to have

met you.

 

Yes yes.

Actually,

you look much better standing up.

Author's Note

I had the "pleasure" of meeting Royston Ellis during the Sinhala and Tamil new year period. We were in Bentota at a luxury villa when the conversation steered towards The Beatles. I discovered later that Mr. Ellis was the man responsible for naming the "Fab Four". Still, no need to tell an innocent man to shut up! This poems narrates part of our evening together.