alice is no longer

surprised

that soapy always
checks
one pocket for his wallet
another for glasses
taps his mouth

she snuggles
beside him

while he looks

out

as time
goes by

along the road
to penistone

she

closes her eyes

the bus

rocks on

after Tickle Cock, Milner, I couldn't help notice Penistone and read second half here as a sex scene, making first half retroactively hilarious. Tom

Let's just say, Tom, that the destination wasn't selected at random. Thanks.

Haven't been up there for a while, SL, but I guess those sheep are still sheeping. At least, their offspring.

Cheers

milner

Got some Jake Thackray vibes from this, Milner. "Country bus, north country bus." Not sure if that's a compliment in your book, but it is in mine.

The cunning double entendres are reminiscent of him as well. (I missed that one until Tom pointed it out. Dopey!)

Cheers

David

milner, I can truly say now that soapy has become 'the man' and 'a man' to me now.  before, (i'll be honest) i saw him as this sort of a cave man sort of fella with no clothes but a fur draped across him.  now i see him wearing trousers and shirt with pockets, wearing glasses, and spending and making money.  don't know why all that occurs to me in one poem, but one has to admit--it must mean the poem is a good one if it can do all that.

and then when he taps his mouth--well that's just too cute and sweet.  soapy even has a mannish sort of romanticism about him, and alice is so pleased, which pleases this woman.  and she's comfortable.  a woman never wants to 'snuggle' unless she's comfortable and happy.

and then!  i read tom's comments, read the poem again through his eyes the best i can, and see the poem and penistone in a very fun and funny way.  you really are just too much, milner.  and not a bad poet OR storyteller, either.

i love this poem.

cheryl

A compliment in all my books too, David. You probably missed that double entendre because you are too familiar with the normal pronounciation.

Caveman? Cheryl. Soapy might talk in such terms of Ohlson, if he didn't consider it an insult to cavemen. Happy you've now seen him in another light.

I think near all my poems are stories, of some sort. Many thanks for your words.

milner

oh my gosh.  I understand the WHOLE thing about penistone now.  I only caught the stone part and wondered about the pennies part. then read your reply to David, milner, which is my reason for missing it the first time round.  what's come over me???  me?? not thinking readily of male parts??  and the word is right there in front of me.  I must be ill.  God forbid I give up on the fantasy!

cheryl

..moving to Tickles..I mean Pickles...I mean Picks

Thanks for driving the bus along, Tom.

milner

Lovely and funny.  Thanks.

Rick

That you found it be both is my reward, Rick. Thanks

milner