SAM'S PRAYER.

A BOY AND HIS TALKING MOTHER.

I heard tell his mother said
To Mrs Moony that the likes

Of her have no morals what
With having men about the

House all hours and the hairy
Husband of her away more

Often than not than he’s home
And the kids out causing trouble

So I’ve heard and she having
No control over them and the

Daughter that little cheeky Lizzy
Has a baby on the way well that’s

The way it looks by the size of
Her now compared to how she

Looked before and pausing for
Breath to allow the asthma to

Ease Mrs Moony took up the
Conversation like some relay

Runner taking up the baton and
Running with it said and she no

Better than that Mrs Crab taking
On with that O’ Brian chap him

With the glass eye who looks at
You with that dumb stare and

Wasn’t his brother the one who
Interfered with Maggie’s girl?

I’m sure it was or my ears my
Eyes deceive me and anyway

Mrs Crab’s husband with the
Tattoo on his neck (I’ve seen it

Owing to him never wearing
A collar on his shirt) is away

In prison for that robbery in
Dublin and always denies it

Of course and don’t they all
Innocent until proven my ma

Used to say and I’m sure her
Son will follow in his father’s

Footsteps so to speak what
With the way he is and always

Coming over with the backchat
And the lies he tells is anyone’s

Business and pausing she looked
Up and down the street and he in

The short pause of silence rubbed
The toe of his shoe on the pavement

Sighed a deep sigh and gazed up at
The grey trouser sky praying softly

Like a soft hum that Lord Jesus in
His mercy strike the women dumb.