ORIGINAL VERSION – THE ARTMAN #2

THE SAD MAN and THE GALLOPERS

EDIT 2

…

She looked like Betty Grable, she was and post the Brighton bombing

Maggie had her hair, she might have worn Carmen Miranda’s extravaganza

I didn’t wear a care, for in those days I philandered, selling art materials,

Listened in on Brian Hayes as British lads were sent down Falklands way

…

Listened in to anybody with half a tale, chance often throws up a sale

The sad man came one afternoon, we cope in different ways with grief

Queue up behind our system of belief, sad man trying to turn a new leaf

Concealed his pain in a harmless folly, mourning the loss of his one and only

He coloured in a technical poster, during the days after he had lost her

A working diagram of a fairground Galloper, that he sent for in the post

In our gentle conversation the man who was sad he won my attention

I admired his style, his consideration, as I helped him choose his framing 

Back in the centre of our domestic situation we were unaware and green

to a mechanical complication as we set the timer on the washing machine

It leaked, covered the living room Lino, seeped through to the floor below

Having nowhere else to go, sprinkled upon sad man’s poster, a true disaster!

Sad man came to review the damage, I would reimburse him for his trouble

I couldn’t help him colour-in the double, yet in truth I thought he did it better

Possibly not as personal, heart-felt, not racked with grief, certainly not wetter

He thanked me, went on his way with his framed Gallopers, that he got cheaper

…

He had looked a little like Don Ameche with no moustache, so much younger

He had a gentle way, he missed his wife, she’d died of cancer, you learn to listen

To your customer, let them have their say, In that way, your like a counsellor

You cheer them up, pack their purchase, send them on their Argentina way!

…

edenbraytoday

Ref. 28092020

THE ARTMAN – 2 (2ND DRAFT)

THE SAD MAN and THE GALLOPERS

DOWN ARGENTINA WAY

…

She looked like Betty Grable (for she was)

and post the Brighton bombing, 

Maggie Thatcher had her hair,

She might have worn a Carmen Miranda, 

extravaganza, 

I didn’t wear a care,

For in those days I philandered,

 selling artists materials,

Listened in on Brian Hayes as

British lads went down Falklands way,

to fight!

…

I listened to anyone with half a tale,

listening, will often throw you up a sale

The sad man came one quiet afternoon,

we cope in different ways with our grief

it queues up behind our systems of belief

Sad man tried to turn over a new leaf

concealed his pain in a harmless folly,

mourning the loss of his one and only

He had coloured in a technical poster,

during the bad days after he had lost her

A working diagram of a fairground Galloper,

he had sent for in the post

In our gentle conversation

the man who was sad, won my attention

I admired his style, his consideration,

and helped him choose his framing

… 

Back in the centre of our domestic situation

we, unaware and green

of a mechanical complication

set the timer on our washing machine

It leaked, covered the living room Lino,

seeped through to the floor below – and

Having nowhere else to go,

sprinkled on the sad man’s poster,

that now became a shop disaster

…

The sad man came to review the damage,

I would reimburse him for his trouble

I couldn’t help him colour-in the double,

though in truth I thought it  better

Not as personal or heart-felt, not racked

with grief and certainly not wetter!

He thanked me, went on his way proudly

with his new framed Gallopers in its frame

…

He had looked a little like Don Ameche,

without moustache, so much younger

He had gentle ways, he missed his wife,

she had died of cancer, you learn to listen

To your customer, let them have their say,

In that way, you become a counsellor

Cheer them up, pack their purchase,

send them on their Argentina way

edenbraytoday

Ref. 28092020