The Grime Reaper
THE GRIM REAPER (JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE)
This Grim Reaper stirs from another well-earned day of heavenly sleep
From within the bowels of this cavernous earth, from his cave, so deep
His cloak and scythe, been cast to one side, in an unceremonious heap
From last night’s hard work of collecting souls, in the local town sweep
His dry and aching bones creaked from the hot fires that burned within
Time maybe, he thinks, for a glass of his favourite iced cooled pink gin
As his aching bones start to loosen up, he as now starts to feel at ease
Outs, his cavernous abode, to feel through his bones the night’s breeze
As little Goblins appear, muttering to themselves on his, ravaged sight
By his grim face, they know they are in for another arduous filled night
Checks on the death list rota, to see what night work needs to be done
Before another night is over then coming home before next morn’s sun
As reading through the rota list a bony smirk jars across his aching jaw
When on it he sees; the names of those he knows, as to be never-more
Mr Jones, the bailiff, to be cast forever into the bowels of hell, to spend
As casting out so many into homelessly without no humility did he lend
Mr Brown the greedy landlord, that who charged way far too much rent
The Grim Reaper ponders on his face, when he sees who has been sent
His worthless soul soon collected, and forever in hell is made to repent
And to this day, nobody knows to just where his overcharged rent went
As the iced pink gins have done their work his bones now do less creak
He then passes some foul-smelling flatulence and has his morning leak
Now dresses in the only attire he has known since working in hell, here
As only the best of the town’s collector of cursed redeeming souls, seer
Scythe and clipboard in hand, he sets off, into the rain, and windy night
Until as over the town he stands, formidably, when you are 7ft in height
Before passing down onto the cobbled streets below, at a door to arrive
Back home the Goblins take this moment, to have a cigarette and skive
They seem to know the score, it is going to be, one hell of a darn night
And seen with the speed of the Grim Reaper, as he sets off in fast flight
As town folk slept, idling chimneys, released their last plumes of smoke
Oblivious, to the clicking of the Grim Reapers feet, and his trailing cloak
Firstly, was old man Jones who was sleeping soundly upon the top floor
The Grim Reaper rapped twice, with his scythe upon the old man’s door
You could almost as feel the neighbours, burying deeper into their quilts
The door though unmanned, opened itself, as if without of a hint of guilt
The Grim Reaper stooped beneath its archway, then ascended the stairs
Gave an old fart of a cat sleeping upon one of them, a mightily of scares
The bedroom door opening, again untouched, like it had a life of its own
Upon the sight of the Grim Reaper, Mr Jones, let out one ‘eck of a groan
The Grim Reaper in one sweep, lifted this man, upon his bony shoulders
His bed now bare, set within the wall, a dying fire, which still smoulders
The old fart of a cat had scarpered, onto other rellie’s had to make a call
Whilst the Grim Reaper, made a fearful sight, towering in, at over 7ft tall
Leaving the cobbled streets, as disappearing into the mist with his prize
Listening not to Mr Jones, the rotten bailiff, pleading, and so pitiful cries
Goblins on hearing of their master’s return, ready themselves for chores
Extracting gold teeth with pliers, and, piling their bodies, all up in scores
Mr Brown; the ever so overcharging rent man, tenants now just relieved
Fred, the fishmonger, who poisoned his missus, on accusation, aggrieved
The Cooper boys, who watered down the wine, as filling up their pockets
Matt, who poached fish in the river Fife, an angry Earl he'd made a profit
The work continued on through the night, until at last it was finally done
With the Grim Reaper and the Goblins settling down before the next sun
The Goblins, with their lager, and the Grim Reaper, with his iced pink gin
Then a well-earned lie-in, before another night of soul collections begins
Indiana Shaw . . .
Copyright © Indiana Shaw | Year Posted 2023
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