Taken Ill When Abroad; Or, My Drozhky Driver Has Been Struck By Lightning* Poem by Pete Crowther

“Good evening, can I help you?
How is it going? How do you feel? ”

“I’m not well, I need a doctor,
I’ve got backache, I’ve got diarrhoea,
I’ve got ‘flu, my feet hurt.
I’d like something for a headache,
I’d like some aspirin, I’d like some bandages,
I’d like a bottle of red wine.
I’m English, my name is Pete”.

“Thanks for everything! ”

*Written with the help of my favourite foreign-language phrasebook.