LATE

John Ellis worked hard
And spent his leisure time
Pubbing and Clubbing
Till late
Very late
This night didn’t differ
When he crawled into his pit
Much the worse for drink
It was late
Very late
When he awoke in the morning
Thick head pounding
He stared bleary eyed at the clock
It was late
Very late
Slowly what he saw permeated the haze
Dawning on him in the half light
And he cursed
I’m late
I’m late
He hurriedly scraped the ice
Then when he got in the car
The radio confirmed
He was late
Very late
He was a safe driver normally
But today he drove too fast
He took too many chances
Because he was late
Very late
He raced on to the motorway
Despite the spray and patchy mist
He raced on ever conscious
He was late
Very late
Bright red lights
Pierced through the mist suddenly
He braced himself and braked
Too late
Too late
His mangled body sat motionless
In the tangle of mangled metal
And his life ebbed away
Late, late
The late John Ellis