Uncle and Auntie

John Hegley

 my auntie gave me a colouring book and crayons
 I begin to colour
 after a while auntie leans over and says
 you've gone over the lines
 what do you think they're there for
 eh?
 some kind of statement is it?
 going to be a rebel are we?
 your auntie gives you a lovely present
 and you have to go and ruin it
 I begin to cry
 my uncle gives me a hanky and some blank paper
 do some doggies of your own he says
 I begin to colour
 when I have done
 he looks over
 and says they are all very good
 he is lying
 only some of them are

Commentary

I first encountered John Hegley on Minstrels last year (Poem #1584, Go and play in the middle) and it was love at first sight. On a trip to England this summer I picked up a volume of his poetry entitled Glad to Wear Glasses. It was difficult to pick just one poem to submit, but I find this one a delightful example of his unpretentious, razor sharp wit. His website may be viewed at: http://www.johnhegley.co.uk.

Thank you,
Laura Simeon.


The Wondering Minstrels, poem #1766 ยท 23 September 2005

Guest poem submitted by Laura Simeon

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