NOEL

The following poem’s authorship remains unknown, but on this occasion it is dedicated to my father in law, Noel Wicks, who still lives independently at home.

The horse and mule live 30 years

And nothing know of wines and beers.

The goat and sheep at 20 die

And never taste of scotch or rye.

The cow drinks water by the ton

And at 18 is mostly done.

The dog at 15 cashes in

Without the aid of rum and gin.

The cat in milk and water soaks

And then in 12 short years it croaks.

The modest, sober, bone-dry hen

Lays eggs for nogs, then dies at 10.

All animals are strictly 'dry';

They sinless live and swiftly die.

But sinful, ginful, rum-soaked men 

Survive for three score years and ten.

And some of them, a very few,

Stay pickled till they're 92.

Still rarer, one Noel Francis Wicks

Has a nightly tipple - and is 96!

This photograph was taken last Saturday, 8 October 2022 – 

Noel having a white with Indian food.

Noel gets the Yay For the Day. . .