Widdershins

Edgar woke as the bedside clock

Chimed in with a spate of news,

The Greens were jumping through hoops again

At the culling of Kangaroos,

The Greeks were rioting in the streets

Cut off from their Euro links,

In Egypt, there was a vague report

Of a Spaceship, over the Sphinx!

 

He yawned, rolled over to kiss his wife

Fell onto the bedroom floor,

He’d always slept on the right of the bed

But not on the left before!

He staggered over and pulled the blinds,

The sun streamed into the room,

He frowned, it never shone round this side

‘Til late in the afternoon!

 

His wife raced out of the bathroom, slipped

A comb through her auburn hair,

‘You’re going to be late for work again!’

He scratched at his head, and stared.

‘It’s Saturday morning, June,’ he said,

‘It’s Thursday,’ she replied,

‘Don’t you remember Friday night?

Just check the TV Guide!’

 

She poured his drink from the coffee pot,

He’d always favoured tea,

The sun was a-rising in the West

In a pure absurdity,

He caught the bus that he’d always caught

But it went the other way,

Instead of a route through city streets

It dropped him, down at the Bay.

 

He called at the Bay Newsagent

But they hadn’t a paper there,

They only had one from Friday night

It was called, ‘The Evening Star.’

‘What day is it?’ he asked the man

Who gave him a funny look,

‘Wha’ da ya think, it’s Thursday;

Now go off, and sling yer ‘ook!’

 

He wandered along the promenade

And he found a handy bar,

He needed a drink to calm him down

From the jitters he’d felt so far:

‘Just give me a Beam & Coke,’ he said

To the Barman’s steely glare,

Who poured him a Bloody Mary

So he turned and he left it there.

 

Over and by the Harbour wall

An old man sat in glee,

He said, ‘Now I’ve been a fisherman

Since nineteen fifty three,

I’ve never seen tides that turn like this

A high come in on a high…’

The sea crashed over the Harbour wall

As the old man let out a sigh!

 

Edgar pricked up his ears and said:

‘So you have noticed it too!

I thought that I was the crazy one,

The world’s turned into a zoo!’

‘Have ever you heard of Widdershins?

I mind it happened before…’

But the old man wouldn’t be drawn again,

Just stared at the further shore!

 

Edgar managed to get back home

As the clock was striking six,

The news was due to be following on

From the kids Ventriloquist,

And the bulletin they read that night

Said the Spaceship seemed to have left,

Had winked its lights as it took to flight,

While the sun sank in the West!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Audrey Owens]

I feel as if I've been turned around as many times as poor Edgar! And that is the perfecting element of this poem, as to understand the significance of the sun setting in the west, you need to feel as if it has indeed risen there. Amazing! Keep up the good work!

[Autumn Dawn]

Edgar sounds like the typical 9-5er. He lives day by day in somewhat daze of "happier moments. Great imagery and flow.

[Priyankaabhilaashi]

Interesting..!!

[A Jainam Mehta]

wonderful imagination. enjoyed reading

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the story of Edgar. You led me with him on a interesting day. I like the places and the conversation/events in the poem. Thank you for sharing the excellent poem.
Coyote

[Dean Kuch®]

Such creativity! Problem is, I do believe that I've had days like this. Very witty, I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

[DiMar4u]

amazing. i so thoroughly enjoyed that piece. thank you for sharing.

[Bryan Micheni]

i like this write, and the imagery it lends to the reader

[Chris G. Vaillancourt]

lovely with such imagery, pleasure to read

[Louise Holm]

This is really great work. It reminded me of some of the poems I've read in school, Wordsworth, Coleridge and such. Not that it's a poem like the ones from the romantic era, but the structure and the words are so perfectly put together. Wow. Just wow.

[Dayran]

If ever there was a stampede this is the poet who ought to be out front turning the spooked animals back.

A change of style David, more incisive than that bit of science that drips through sometimes. Dealing with change....that's the stuff we seem to be cutting our teeth with, from the large inciscors that they used to be. The kids are going to be fascinated that the old boy can still turn a few tricks. Well done and thanks.

The spaceship certainly says a great deal about the extent of change we went through but you realize of course, the line about the sun setting in the West is just a normal everyday event.