Private Romeo Poem by P V Harrington

Romeo Jaxx had a friend for a fool

So he never thought 'baby's in love'.

He fought for his rights

and he slept through your dreams

With his self-centred wolverine paralysed



Drove out of the camp on a bright summer's day

waving last weekend's pass-out goodbye

Phoned Jenny, then Julie, who never complained

Filled the tank, with the world running dry.



Throws off the fatigues now, just too tired to fight,

He will walk to the beat

of another man's drum

sometimes valour's the best part of sin.

With a grin shoves his ring

on the pawnbroker's manicured thumb.



Now this story splits straight down three parallel lines.

My version, the truth and your lies

You saw him conversing with 12-year-old Jim

in myriad tongues, his back to the wind.

I found him saluting a girl in Key West,

Where admirals croak and malingerers lie.

We both know he broke each old, weary taboo,

Well, salmon will jump

when they're straining to die.



Maybe Romeo Jaxx is of much sterner stuff

And never was swayed from some destiny's path.

Straight as a die

but the die is now cast,

the cast are now blind

and the blind are aghast.

Our Romeo sees that there's no one ahead

don't tell him, there's no one behind.
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