Sally Ann

A Poem by David Lewis Paget

‘Where are you going, Sally Ann

Now the nights have become so dark,

Why do you get so restless, say

You want to walk in the park?’

I thought to sit by the fireside

Each time that she ventured out,

It’s cold and damp by the streetlight lamp,

So what was it all about?

‘I need to go where the wind will blow,

Feel the damp caressing my cheek,

The bracing air is a tonic there,

While you sit, and you never speak.

It gets so terribly warm in here,

I feel I can barely breathe,

You sit and enjoy your fireside chair

But me, I just have to leave.’

So I’d go and stare out the window

Just as she left, my Sally Ann,

The thought was crossing my mind just then

Was she meeting some other man?

The question sat on my lips at times

But I thought I’d better not say,

If once I questioned my Sally Ann

It might just drive her away.

I’d watch her stand at the kerbside edge

And ponder which way to go,

She’d walk by the village of Kirby Ledge

Or left, round the bungalow,

It happened often she’d cross the road

And wander off to the mill,

I knew she’d get to the park that way

The other side of the hill.

One night, the rain it came pelting down

I knew she’d be good and wet,

I went to the old umbrella stand

And thought I could catch her yet,

The wind was gusting, the rain blew in,

In flurries under my hood,

I barely could see the way she’d been,

In passing by Farley Wood.

I saw the light of a dim-lit torch

Flashing under the trees,

And wandered over to take a look

Though feeling weak in the knees,

A woman lay on a groundsheet there

Though he had covered her face,

I still could see that her limbs were bare

And thrashing all over the place.

‘Oh Sally Ann,’ I had sobbed, and ran,

While making my way back home,

I cursed the folly of coming out,

It was better I hadn’t known.

Then Sally Ann had opened the door

Said ‘Come in out of the rain.

I went to walk but I cut it short.’

I flew to her arms again.

David Lewis Paget

© 2017 David Lewis Paget

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Dennis White

Magnificent story telling, while reading this, the rhyme and tempo reminded of the writings of Robert W. Service, a great poet and master story teller himself. Thank you for bringing this fine poem to my attention, it is appreciated. Write On my friend !