Bess And Joan Poem by Francis Duggan

Old Bess and old Joan in their eighties have been next door neighbours for years
But they have not spoken for decades no love lost between those old dears
To their friends they bad mouth each other with them it's not forgive and forget
And they will be hating each other till each of them draw their last breath.

Old Bess she is a childless widow her husband Tom died a decade ago
And he was a crusty old fellow to few he ever said hello
And Joan also childless never married though she has had a few men in her life
And though one once asked her for her hand in marriage she declined for to become his wife.

It's been said Tom and Joan once were lovers till Bess got wind of their affair
And what once was a reasonable friendship became damaged beyond repair
And when Tom and Joan parted company he went back to living with Bess
And though they never again slept together they remained as man and wife nevertheless.

Bess and Joan have not spoken for four decades though to each other they live next door
And Bess is the older by two years last June she turned eighty four
But because of Tom they will go on hating each other suppose for as long as they live
The past they cannot put behind them and they will not forget and forgive.