What Dudman Said 1916 Poem by Terry Collett

George had gone
from the house.

His parents
had sent him
to a place
for treatment
for the state
of his nerves
broken up
at the Front.

Who told you?
Polly asked
when Susie
had told her.

Old Dudman
(the butler)
just told me,
Susie said.

But gone where?
Polly asked.

Didn't say,
said Susie,
secretly
she was glad
that Polly
would not now
be able
to go sleep
in his bed
as she had
times before.

I must know
where he's gone,
Polly said,
and rushed off
quickly to
find Dudman
and ask him.

Where's he gone?
Polly said
to Dudman
who was in
his small room.

Where's who gone?
He asked her.

Master George,
she replied.

He eyed her
quite sternly;
where he can
be assured
of treatment,
Dudman said.

But where's that?
Polly said.

I can't say,
not to you,
he replied,
back to work,
and forget
your dealings
in the past,
in his bed,
Dudman said.