To The Lady With The Raven Black Hair

[dafydd manton]

To The Lady With The Raven Black Hair

Look, I don't mind getting older
And I don't mind getting balder,
Or the way that all my body's going south.
And I'm feeling pretty fine
That my teeth are really mine,
And there's not a single denture in my mouth.

No, the problem is my hair,
Well - the stuff that isn't there,
But I guess that's just the way the story goes.
Yet I can't allay the fears
That it coming out my ears
Or worse yet, that it sticks out of my nose.

Now, I'm not afraid to say
That my chest hair's going grey
(And the other bit's betwen just you and me.)
So it doesn't really matter
If the locals start to chatter,
'Cos no-one else is ever going to see.

Do you remember when I said
As we cuddled up in bed,
"Will you love me when I'm going old and grey?"
Well, this is nature's fate,
You haven't got to wait -
'Cos it looks as though I got here, just today!

[angliholic]

Very philosophical and thought-provocaking!
It's a powerful and great piece!
Thanks for sharing!

The last two lines really throw me off!

You haven't got to wait -
'Cos it looks as though I got here, just today!

I have to think about it before I really know what you try to get across!

[hillwalker]

This rattles along like an old 'Madness' tune - not my particular taste in music but for some reason it reminds me of 'Baggy Trousers' or the like. I could hear the music as I read through it quite clearly.

Very witty as usual, and I'm now wondering if the lady's raven black hair is now courtesy of a bottle (or perhaps always was).

[dafydd manton]

No, no, (how ungallant!), its just that I am going exceeding grey.

The metre was from a temperance poem, of all things, which is funny but to be ignored. just made me smile a bit!

[Maryd.]

I found this one fun to read... I sang it and it almost came across like one of Benny Hill's rhymes.

[dafydd manton]

The fastest Milkman in the West! "She lived all alone, on Lindley Lane at number twenty-two." Good point, Mary!! Thanks for the comment, always enjoy your input.

[Jerrybaldy]

ahh an ode to hair - a subject close to my heart (and nowhere close to my scalp)
Funny and wonderfully rhymed as always dear Daf.
cheers mate
Jerry

[PrinceMyshkin]

Well, it seems you found a use for temperance after all!

The poem is, well:party:brilliant! The rhyming so deft, the humour so brave! I must admit, I almost missed the significance of the raven-black hair of the title, my thanks to the poster who mentioned it.

Damn! This is good!

[dafydd manton]

Thanks indeed to all of you, a bit of appreciation goes a long way!!!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Thanks indeed to all of you, a bit of appreciation goes a long way!!!

So, too, does a bit of hair...

[dafydd manton]

Cheek!!! I've got a bit, it just happens not to be the wavy black stuff I had when I also had a waistline!

[hillwalker]

ahh an ode to hair - a subject close to my heart (and nowhere close to my scalp)

Thanks again, daf - worth posting this poem for the priceless comment above. Still chuckling now.....

[dafydd manton]

Would he have voted Whig or Tory, d'you reckon?

[hillwalker]

Not sure about that..... I don't think he's particularly interested in politics.

More of a Shakespeare buff I seem to remember him letting slip once. I can see him now posed on some empty stage in the centre of the spotlight, 'Toupee or not toupee, that is the question.....'

[Delta40]

so nice that you have arrived with sparse coverings of wisdom

[Haunted]

really funny, I was laughing all the way until I got to this:


Do you remember when I said
As we cuddled up in bed,
"Will you love me when I'm going old and grey?"

then I feel a tear forming. Love the way you mix funny with serious, bringing so much more depth to the poem.

[adityasam]

Very Very Witty and Very Very Natural. Was giggling all the way, when I was reading this. The flow was spontaneous and went on very smoothly. You are great daf sir, Wish I had the skills too! Thanks for this charming piece.

Regards

[dafydd manton]

Thanks, everybody. Haunted, you're nothing but an old softy! (I'm pleased to say)