I went into the pub and sat

down on a wooden bench.

There was an old chap sitting there,

“Now listen to me, wench!”

 

“It seems to me” the old man said

“That life’s all upside down”

I asked him what he meant

and he continued with a frown

 

“Cos when you’re young and bright and new

you are so fawned upon!

Everyone admires you

and you can do no wrong.”

 

“The apple of your mother’s eye

your father’s pride and joy

as all the neighbours gather round

the baby girl or boy.”

 

“And there you sit a-gurgling,

surrounded by such love!

The centre of attention

God-given, from above.”

 

“And later in the schoolyard

playin’ with your friends

you think that life’s all jolly

and that this will never end.”

 

“Your grandparents were always there,

praised you to the skies!

But just when you start to like them,

that’s when they ups and dies.”

 

“If you’re lucky then you marry,

and your children come along.

For a while life’s really busy

there’s just so much goin’ on!”

 

“There’s homework that you help them with

and holidays and fun.

Then they grow up and leave home

and the frollickin’s all done.”

 

“Next, your parents pop their clogs.

Oh what a sorry day!

Two funerals in as many years –

Oh! what more can I say?”

 

“The world bein’ what it is now

your marriage will break up

and half your friends will walk away

so you’ll be out of luck.”

 

“It’s meals for one in the microwave

tv for company

and bus rides just to pass the time!

That’s what it’s like for me.”

 

“And as you age you can’t get out

and life is such a pain!

I don’t think I would bother

to do it all again!”

 

“Of course, your friends are all dead now

and in the cemetery.

I just hope they’ve remembered

to save a place for me.”

 

And then I started laughing

and he started laughing too

“I am a daft old sod!” he said

and I said “Yes! That’s true”!

 

“Cos at least I got to live my life

was cherished and was loved.

So here’s to all our absent friends!

in heaven up above!”

 

So we toasted all our absent friends

with a glass of luke warm beer,

and decided that we’d make the most

of friends that are still here!