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Sunday, 5 January 2014

The Parsons Job - Madeline Ida Bedford

What do you want
Coming to this ‘ere ‘ell?
Ain’t it enough to know he’s dead.
Killed by a bit o’ German lead?
What! – the Lord means well?

I guess ye are daft!
He’s one o’ the good ‘uns, Jim:
Natures gentleman, rough but true
He didn’t know ‘ow to sin
But – what is that to you?

You make me sick
Why should he die.
When forger Wright wins a V.C.
And criminal Kelly catches a spy?
That don’t spell Justice to me.

Get out, or I’ll strike you down.
I’m carrying his kid.
Do you call that fair?
Gawd – no wonder I want to gib;
Our first-born, and his father – where?

You hold your tongue.
What he said of our child
Ain’t for you to be teaching me.
He called ‘Our little blossom wild’,
Why – can’t yer let me be!

I hate your religion;
I don’t want gold;
I only want my man
What? It’s in me to enfold
Jim in my babyland?

Gawd bless yer, Parson,
I’ll try to think right
Upon my widowed way.
So Jim ain’t quite out o’ sight?
Teach me – ‘ow to pray.

Madeline Ida Bedford

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