Kenny

Kenny

it's been a few years since
she saved for her 'bottom drawer'
I remember her buying  an 
ottoman, and some nets,
for the life of me I couldn't get
how they would fit in it..
We both worked at the sewing
factory, slaving and sweating
in the presses..mid seventies
Chinese laundry in Summer..
Elvis died that year.. they 
anounced it on the radio..
and lasses in steams ran
to the toilets crying..
now she is crying much more..
Kenny..I saw you getting married,
she bought a tin of salmon every
pay day..for the Wedding bottom 
drawer..from the Trading Stores
Geordie lad..I had Geography with you
and many lessons in school..
though through our greenstick years
we were as alian as Mars and Venus,
I saw you once, on the top of Arndale
sitting in a new white flash car,
reading the Car Manual..
He's got a new toy..has Kenny
but I remember mostly the boy..
who smoked cigs and I didn't..
and you married my best friend
from when I was very little ..
Suffolk Road kids were hard,
harder than Geordies..
and Ellen met your match..
she had what it took..
I know you had problems big lad,
but Ellen dealt with that..
and kept you safe ..
but you slipped away ..silently
you never ever said a bad word to me
which makes you a king in my book..
bless you ...