The Day Elsie Left Eddie 1960

It was all over;

The thing fell apart

His wife had walked out

Gone off with someone

And taken Enid.

It came as a shock

The fact that she went;

He hadn’t thought it

Would actually be

And he would be free.

She left a letter

Saying she had gone

Off with this other

No forward address 

Was given to him

Just her neat writing

To say she had left.

The flat was empty

Except for the bed

And table and chairs

And the old TV

And old radio.

The other bedrooms

Were empty; she had

Left all the kitchen

Utensils and pots

And the old gas stove.

He was now alone

And she had left him.

No one to please now

No one to shout at

Nor to argue with;

Just the council flat

And nosey neighbours

Who had seen her leave

And who now no doubt

Gossiped about him

While his back was turned 

And his anger burned.