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Thursday 3 November 2016

The Tale of Robert Stanley Raney

Lonely Robbie Raney
Had a photo of his daddy
With his mummy, looking happy
Before his daddy went away,
Before she’d died when he was tiny
Baby Robbie Raney.

Orphan Robbie Raney
Went to school and studied daily,
Wasn’t dumb and wasn’t brainy.
Made no friends and sat alone,
Ate his sandwich, and went home.
Little Robbie Raney.

Robert Stanley Raney
Went to work at various jobs;
Bits and bits, odds and sods.
Kept his counsel, worked alone,
Made no money, spoke to no-one.
Strange Mr. Raney.

Robert Stanley Raney
Was in love with a fine lady
From afar. She was so pretty.
But he said nothing; such a shame,
He was too shy to ask her name
Timid Robert Raney.

Lonely Old Robbie
Had a pension, not that great -
Either had heat or he ate.
Wore three thick socks on his feet,
Shivered underneath his sheets.
Cold Retired Robbie.

Sad Old Robbie
Woke one day and started crying.
He had dreamed that he was dying,
Cursed the brand new waiting morning,
Couldn’t see the use in trying
Always to be happy.

Poor Old Robbie Raney
Hobbled down toward the park
To sit and sit til it was dark.
His coat had holes, his shoes had more,
He left his room and shut the door.
Tired Robbie Raney

Stooped and wizened Robbie
Looked down and spotted something shiny
On the street! A pound coin? Surely
Someone would be back to get it?
But if not, he could accept it
And be rich man Robbie!

Happy rich Robbie
Strained his poor old back again
Bending down to get the coin.
But he couldn’t pick it up:
It was glued down. It had been stuck
There by local kiddies.

Back-pained Old man Robert
Heard the children’s mocking laughter.
He was lonelier than ever.
His whole soul dived; he was bereft.
He reached the park, sat down and wept,
Teary Old Robert.

Sad, cold, lonely Robbie
Sat and wept, bereft, forlorn,
Wondering why he had been born.
A life near done: what was it for?
And why continue any more?
Tired, old, battered Robbie.

Lonely Old Robbie
Felt a tugging at his coat.
Heard a barking, pleading note.
It was a mangy little cur
With patches missing from its fur.
A limping, crooked doggie.

Robert Stanley Raney
Said: “I have nothing for you.
I have no money, got no food.
Go and pester someone else.
I’m not long for this world myself.”
But doggie stayed.

Old man Robbie
Took his stick and started home,
But this time he was not alone.
In his footsteps, following softly,
Stumbled a twisty-legged doggie.
Walking with his daddy.

Robbie and the doggie
Wandered. Robbie shooed the hound
But the dog, well he just stood his ground,
Looked up at him with deep brown eyes
Full of loving hope and pride:
Robbie Raney’s doggie.

Then they met a lady
Who kneeled down and stroked the doggie.
“Oh you poor thing, you’re so lovely,
But you’ve got a broken leg.
Did you know that I’m a vet?
Can I help you baby?”

Robbie, his dog and the lady
Walked together to the surgery.
Robbie realised that she
Had been the girl he’d loved before,
The woman he had once adored.
Their eyes met briefly as she

Bandaged up the doggie.
She made a perfect cup of tea
And said, “I will fix him for free.
I have seen this dog from time to time.
He was a stray; and now he has a very fine
And handsome daddy.”

So Robert Stanley Raney
Took the deepest of deep breaths,
His heart was pounding out his chest,
He plucked up courage, felt ashamed,
But asked the lady, “What’s your name?”
And she said: "Betty Bailey."

__

Some years later
A house was rented to another.
Underneath the floorboards fluttered
An ancient, yellow, faded picture
On which the smiles seemed even bigger
Of mummy and of daddy.

And if you looked ever so closely
In the background you might just see
Partly hidden by a tree
An old man and a bandaged doggie
Smiling with a pretty lady:
Robert, Coal and Betty.

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