The Old Bloke
By Chris Williams
Published 1 January 2021
Don’t come with me no more
The old bloke
Seems funny without ‘im
Jeeze we done some miles together, went all over
Perth, Rocky, you name it
He’d just sit there beside me, saying nothing
But looking, looking all the time he was
Good offsider
Best I ever had
Seems funny without ‘im
Was his back that got ‘im
Arthbloodyritis
Only to be expected I s’pose
I mean he’s a good age
But it’s hard for ‘im
Retirement
Sits around in the sun all day
Or near the fire and telly when it’s cold
And we talk about the road
And sometimes I catch a look in his eye
He’ll tilt his head to one side, like he can hear a Cummins
Crying off in the night
Don’t come with me no more
The old bloke
Seems funny without ‘im
Can hardly move around, so climbing in a rig’s no go
Pills don’t help
Vet says it’s time
I’ll miss him.