I was keen on Ovaltine
till Bosco came on the scene.
Hi there, I’m your initial cup of coffee,
The one that jolts your brain out of neutral.
I don’t think you could survive without me
And at times, I know this feeling’s mutual.
It’s my purpose to get your systems working,
To tempt you out from the Land of Nod,
To guide you from the path that leads to brambles
Through pastures that past villagers have trod.
Yes, I am your very first cuppa,
I’m just one of your very best friends,
I try to sustain your brain functions,
It’s on me that your future depends!
I’m happy to stay to the side of the stage
In the shadows of the wings,
I will mingle with milk from multiple brands
Or those thin wooden, stirry things.
I won’t confront your weariness
Or your affair with Ovaltine,
I’m content to raise your consciousness
With a swift dose of caffeine.
So don’t take me for granted
I’ll be there as you grow old,
Awakening your palate
Whilst warming the mug you hold.
Carrots are not good for you
nor is Ovaltine
Beets can make your urine stink
Purple onions make you mean
Grapefruit's too acidic
raw eggs can make you loose
Give a kid an overripe peach
~ 15 years for child abuse
Late 1940s England
the square
was packed
& the high street full
meat&veg seemed plentiful
market barkers
drew the queues
with jokes
impromptu
shoppers filed
neat& formal
in sainsburys greggs
& home colonial
the bacon slicer
shuttled back& forth
rashers scaled
in halves&fourths
bread mealed smooth&strong
butter patted shaped oblong
cheese cut with twangy wire
toasted later on an open fire
ham sliced from the bone
spuds bagged weighed in stones
tea from open square tins
packet-served with a welcome grin
'woollies' snackbar smells
'elevenses' hunger time to quell
one mug of ovaltine must'nt dally
so shortcut thru' market alley
where auctioneers tones rise&fall
above the sheep&cattle stalls
then off homewards at a trot
last pennies spent in feaseys sweetshop
on the train bridge 'spotted' numbers new
waited whilst the 'cutler' raced thru'
along pebble brook time to climb a tree
on this day shopping was made coupon-free
the square
was packed
& the high street full
meat&veg seemed plentiful
market barkers
drew the queues
with jokes
impromptu
shoppers filed
neat& formal
in sainsburys greggs
& home colonial
the bacon slicer
shuttled back& forth
rashers scaled
in halves&fourths
bread mealed smooth&strong
butter patted shaped oblong
cheese cut with twangy wire
toasted later on an open fire
ham sliced from the bone
spuds bagged weighed in stones
tea from open square tins
packet-served with a welcome grin
'woollies' snackbar smells
'elevenses' hunger time to quell
one mug of ovaltine must'nt dally
so shortcut thru' market alley
where auctioneers tones rise&fall
above the sheep&cattle stalls
then off homewards at a trot
last pennies spent in feaseys sweetshop
on the train bridge 'spotted' numbers new
waited whilst the 'cutler' raced thru'
along pebble brook time to climb a tree
on this day shopping was made coupon-free
Don't leave the box
to the Pop Tarts open,
my Aunt Jessie said:
We'll get a bunch of bugs
crawling all over the icing
then will have to call
the exterminator man;
the house will smell
of fumes for hours
Then, maybe, the ants
will just march
to the other pantry
and invade
the gravy
and Ovaltine
She wears only a light robe
and doesn't complains it's cold;
may I introduce her to you guys:
her name is crazy Josephine...
she drinks alchool and uses morphine...
what a shame: she a grandmother and tells lies!
Fatter than a cow, she eats cookies
dunked in carnation milk...and laughs as a freak,
or a drag queen showing her silver teeth;
that makes me think: did she ever take down those bullies!
I talked to her and told her to get off that staff immediately,
it doesn't work for her depression and loneliness...
will she heed, or continue doing harm to her body?
At forty two, she should think of a better existence!
Let me tell you about the weird personality of Josephine:
she can't cook or make coffee...she only cleans and sings
while Hannessy make her face red and she begins to dance
whispering, " Hi, sweety...hand me some of that ovaltine!"
Mad, mad Josephine, don't seduce me with your flamboyant charm,
I couldn't lie in bed with you, not even for a moment and whisper romantic words;
it would definetely kill any sexual desire even when the room is calm...
please go somewhere else, and find a boyfriend who won't close his eyes and arms.
-
A nightmare of fear woke up in a fright
A wolf stood outside our window that night
Darkest of night a light down the hall
Our mother with neighbour no sugar for morn
His teeth dripped saliva pronged to a gleam
stood tall in the window of six foot it seemed
My sister asleep and my heart thumping raced
I screamed for my mother my sister awakes
I heard heavy footsteps on stairs coming near
I mixed dream and reality the wolf's coming here
Then suddenly realised a slight saving grace
Those feet were not mother's nor wolf in this place
A lodger was staggering a drink maybe more
His shoe steps remembered on stairs and in hall
Into his room and bangs his door shut
Mother strolls in straight after this but
I screamed and I shouted and looked for her love
She promised she'd never get sugar above
I remember this well and the darkness and dread
She calmed me with Ovaltine the sugar and bed. True Story
Glad I was in the rain,
Making paper-sails, wasting my papa's diary pages --
Written and unwritten, scribbled and virgin --
Dancing in the ripples of flood.
Glad I was in causing petty fuss --
Stealing sugar-quoted ovaltine from the meat-safe ,
Licking with the tongue,
Sneaking through the back-door as my mom slept.
Glad I was in odd-bits of mischief --
Taking cover and crying out in shrill voice
Like a siren, signalling the end of fasting time,
When the elders ate up and got transfixed
In the nasty blow of surprise.
I was naughty -- people would say
And I felt no insult.
Now, I am more civil,
Aging and sad
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