You’re Toast

Pillow to post,

Hopes uppermost.

Then lover hangs up, that’s so odd,

It seems you’re toast

You’re toast, you’re toast.

Shirl’s in tears, “Missed my period!”

*

You’re toast, you’re toast.

Ain’t got a ghost,

A shotgun wedding’s on the cards.

Spin on a dime

Wedding bells chime,

You and Shirl go the whole nine yards.

*

Join the rat race

You find a place

Where Shirl can do birth exercise.

Sell bike, buy car,

Well, there you are:

Second-hand cot, free-ads surprise.

*

At dead of night

She has a fright

“Baby’s comin’ now!” hear her shout,

“If we don’t go,

“You’re toast, you know!”

It’s hours later, baby’s out.

*

The babe’s your girl

Image of Shirl.

In muslin wrap, she’s christened Gail.

Hale’n’hearty,

Soul of party,

Wet babe’s head with jugs of ale!

*

Let yourself down,

Binge on the town,

Rozzers say, “Sleep it off in gaol!”

“Over the top,

"You drunken sop!”

Shirley upset, won’t post your bail.

*

Forget flowers,

Rue for hours,

Your life bites, she ignores your hand.

Shirl wants to part,

“You broke my heart!”

And Shirl takes off her wedding band.

*

You cannot grouse,

She gets the house,

Deal’s rough end: pay her rent and food!

As Shirl’s heart’s closed,

You’re toast, you’re hosed.

You miss both girls, you’re feeling screwed.

*

You relocate

To where you hate.

In solit’ry, no-one to phone.

So make the most

Of beans on toast.

A feast for one at home alone.

*

A lonely life,

No babe, no wife.

Hard for singles to start again.

With visits rare

That isn’t fair

And Shirl's remarriage brings more pain.

*

Turning pages,

As Gail ages,

Daughters blossom as fathers fade.

"Daddy, no thanks,

"You give me angst!"

Relationship turn to charade.

*

Life is a strain

Nothing to gain

When parents are so far apart.

Welcomes are worn

Gail's heart is torn.

Shirley and Gail both break your heart.

*

Daughter and Mum

Become as one,

No fag-paper in between.

Together they skip

Joined at the hip.

No room for ex-Dad with a teen.

*

Visits decline,

Gail says "I'm fine,

"You don't have to come ev'ry time.

"Send me a note

"Sometime," she wrote.

Forgetting he came half the time.

*

It dawns on you

You've been outgrew,

You're no longer part of Gail's life.

Worse off than most,

Knowing you're toast,

Stabs into your heart like a knife.

***

But come one May,

Gail’s wedding day,

Aisle and after, You play your part,

You’re asked as host:

“Your toast, your toast.”

You rise, once more in your Gail’s heart.