This poem is dedicated to Tony, who once lived in our Sheltered Scheme and in all the years of our acquaintance, I had never seen him with anything other than a smile on his face (till now?) Though I'm sure knowing him he wouldn't take exception to this light-hearted biography.

THE GOOD LIFE

A neighbour of mine aged ninety-three
of whom many friends concurred to agree
no nicer a guy could there ever be
devoted Christian, his everyday function
was surrogate Pope in Middleton Junction
walked to Church up to three times a day
assisted priests in every which way
counted out biscuits and shots for communion
washed sinks full of pots...from last night's Mother's Union
this good kind gentle 'God-phile'...altruistic naturelle
 prayed non-stop for his fellow men...the sinful ones as well
God (he hoped) was grateful...for his work up there in Heaven
on his knees from dawn till dusk...inclusively twenty-four/seven

 Came a time falling gravely ill
beyond the help of Doctor or pill
 drawn pale-faced through cracked dry lips
kin gathered heard him say
"Throughout ninety years devotion
and time spent as amateur Lay
I've served  the Lord unerring...for all my life  and still 
accept this dreaded moment, to be God almighty's will."
 workman-like Priest mutters quietly...last rites in repetitive way
scatters a few drops of water...for a life completed that day.

God meanwhile in Heaven
 phoned his Pope at the Holy See,
 declaring
"I'll have to watch it in future
this guy's more religious than me"
he simply oozes goodness and likely in future to be
a worrying threat to the prospects...of our trinity's gang of three
he's a hater of globalisation...also progress to world integration
and what is worst I fear
wants restrictions...on other than British up here
his articulate cunning rhetoric...to gullible throats brings a lump
puts me in mind of that carrot-topped twat
misogynist Donald Trump

So if your looking for contentment on eventual demise
it's like going down to the woods today
you're in for a big surprise.
 If there really is a Heaven...existing back-side of the sun
don't believe in all that hearsay
a new regime has begun
God's been deposed...in a Coup 'de etat
Now  "Our Tony's" Cock 'O' The Run.