John Thorkild Ellison (17/04/51 / Edinburgh)

I wandered lonely in the crowd,
Bereft of rhyme or reason,
A jackdaw whispered in my ear
'You will be hung for Treason! '

I ate a meal of nine inch nails
To satisfy my hunger,
It's a recipe that never fails,
Learnt from an ironmonger;

And then I drank some creosote
To quench my raging thirst -
Some people die when they drink that
So I wouldn't be the first!

And still the jackdaw followed me
And spoke about my death,
I shuddered at his prophecy,
Becoming short of breath.

He laughed and croaked so merrily
And settled on my shoulder,
He said that time was running out,
I wouldn't get much older!

'Leave me alone! Please go away! '
I shouted in my fear,
But still he laughed though silently
He shed a single tear.

Then suddenly there was a bang,
I woke up from my dream.
'Are you alright? ' the neighbour said,
'I heard an awful scream! '