Imperial road

Imperial Road

The television stands in the corner
old and wooden, with no button
for channel four.
The picture is dark and fading
like the sun, on its way
to Australia for the night.
The walls, unintentionally off-white
now nearly match the cream plastic chair
where Gordon sits and smokes his pipe.
The ceiling pays tribute to his regular blend
it's strength unquestioned,
it's flavour a friendly
reminder of him.
His wife a million miles away
sups a Mackesons and gets her eyes down
with Ada, her sister, the miner's wife.
And Gordon's climbing the stairs
and he's going to bed,
and he's hoping by morning
they'll both be dead,
as Ada takes another swig
and buys her card for the late night flyer.