1

Death

he goes knocking why not
this door that door this one
is sweet also
I like the look
of the whole town here's
another inviting entry
why not stride right in but}
(oh, I'm so tired) kerchoo
I must be coming down
with something it has been
a long day a long night is
that dawn I see flashing the hill
oops maybe tomorrow let me flit
that cat as I pass by
for the practice
you know look
at that cat run
I think I must need
a doctor

2

Death Said What?

I wanted to go
but my mind wouldn't let me

Go where?

To the dance
but mother said I was too young

How young were you?

Four I was four I was four
I think she said I was four which
was much too young she said so
I must have been four

Please no more of those long replies

Okay

Thank you

Yer welcome

What was that?

What?

That 'yer' business

It wurrnay nothin'. She wurra wee dark-featured
pelly wis ma mither. She wiz gaein' oot doll'd up
each night, got that appointment book like ye might
know. Blap, there gaes the cat.

What are you saying?

I was a wee wean four years old. They could hiv covurred me wit a sheet or somethin'. I could see them dancin'.

Where?

Across the field
a thick haar it was

How many?

Were dancing?

Yes

Four hundred

That's a handful

Some I counted twice
I was clever I could
go up to a thousand using my tables

Pardon me?

They said they were my tables
I'm not bragging

No you were a little four year-old
pissant wanting to go to the dance but
your mind wouldn't let you this
had fuck-all to do with your mother

Now yer mad

Not that much I'm just tired
of being led around by the nose

Later on I went to a dance my first
dance it wasn't that terrific

Who took you?

I took myself I was able

You didn't enjoy it?

Not that much

Why not?

None of your business

I'll keep at it until you tell me

No you won't

I will too

If you do I'll cry

Fine by me tears in crackly old
faces they turn me on no end

You're mean I don't like you

This is for your own good

Nothing I've ever done
was for my own good

So that's why you cried?

When?

At that dance you mentioned

I never went to no dance
it was all in my mind
it was pure hell

You should have liked that

I wasn't in the mood
to have a good time

No one is four years-old forever
you know

Says who

Says me

Says who

Says me

It's to be like that is it?

Nay if ye dance with me. Will ye dance?