Benny Down But Not Out 1958 Poem by Terry Collett

I had an altercation
with the William brothers
on the stairway of the flats.

I had the tall one
on the chin
but the shorter one
winded me
with a crafty punch
to my gut
and I went down.

The tall one
put in a punch
while I was down
then went off
up the stairs
out of sight.

I stood up
and looked over
the balcony
at my manor
below and off
to the horizon
as far as the eye
could see.

Blue skies
pigeons in flight
kids on and by
the pram sheds
the coal man
delivering coal
over the way.

Girls playing
skip rope
or hand standing
against the wall.

Next time
I'll have
the short kid first
leave the tall one
after to pick at will.

But a punch
to the gut
leaves me feeling
out of salts and ill.

But that's life
some you win
some you lose
life is what comes
not always
what you chose.