Kit Kelen #1287 - before the oil

1287

before the oil

grew a little garden

we were always in for afternoon tea

it was tea there weren’t any flavours

probably actually more likely coffee

a pot the size of the village

truly the sun wouldn’t set in those days

not even for winter

not in a storm

sol bakom skyan

it was always there

everything was magic

none of the water was wine

drugs weren’t needed

we were Viking pious

in the darkest joke

no one would crack a smile

magic soap made everyone beautiful

(though of course we couldn’t see it then)

fish would leap up into the boat

and sometimes they would fry themselves

not too salty, nice and crisp

spuds grew in the ground as lovely fat chips

if you caught a bus they carried you on

and brought along a little cottage

in case you might need a rest

things were slower before the oil

everyone did an honest day’s work

but none of it was toil

cash was made of coins then

were made of stronger mettle  

couldn’t buy a thing with bakelite

but it was too dear to throw it out

double glazing was good enough for us

we had a kind of lumbering gait

and everyone was welcome

more coffee, more tea

afternoon, evening

service round the clock

things were understated  

you could fall off a mountain and bounce

but everyone took care

if you died we’d beat you up

then you’d think twice

spoke so slowly that anyone listening

might fall asleep mid-sentence

and wake up after oil

some bastards going through your pockets

notice in the post to say that you’re dead

(always a surprise)

before oil though

one day garlic arrived

someone invented ice cream

it was toast upstairs

that was how our bread came, crisp!

and you could have your bath in bed

you tell this stuff to young people these days

and they roll their eyes

go back to the drilling

still a little air left

some still live before the oil

out fishing in a rusted tin

where life was an open sandwich