The Poetry of Brian Langley
This poem takes a look at one of the big problems of
aging - Alzheimer's Disease.
It is a performance poem in which the performer assumes two different
identities,
Firstly a rather vague hesitant old gentleman sitting in his chair talking to
a visitor -
The second is "Dan", a far more alert individual who is sitting in a
different chair, talking to the old chap.
At the
transition, The performer changes chairs (it is also a good idea to change
hats to indicate that it is a different person narrating)
Dinkum Dan
Do I recall your name sir?
No – I don’t believe I can
But you bear a strong resemblance
To me best mate Dinkum Dan
But you’re many years older
And I wouldn’t be surprised
If you’re a distant relative
But a trifle oversized
You look a lot like Dan, you do
But his hair’s thick and black
You’ve hardly any hair at all
Just a little on the back
And what you’ve got is mottled grey
But still you look like Dan
You wouldn’t be by any chance
Dinkum Dan’s old man?
But no – that cant be right I know
Dan told me just last week
His dad drowned a few years back
When he tried to swim the creek
Was just a couple of years ago
The year the floods came down
The year, that Queen Elizabeth
Inherited the crown
My God, she looked a treat she did
I wonder how she’ll go
Her and that young Philip bloke
I’ve heard he’s Greek you know
Dan, he said he’ll go one day
To Greece, that’s what he said
Was just last week he told us
Me and Jim and Fred
He sprung it on us, sudden like
I dunno why he did
But I bet him that he wouldn’t go
I bet him half a quid
You know I call him Dinkum
‘Cos he never tells the truth
And I reckon that me money’s safe
Now he’s goin out with Ruth
Do you remember Ruthie Jones
That skinny little tart
Well she’s turned out quite a looker
But I think she’ll break his heart
‘Cos sheilas break up friendships
But I don’t believe she can
For we’ll stay mates forever
Just me and Dinkum Dan
I told him, just the other day
I told him, Dan I said
Don’t let that sheila Ruthie Jones
Put marriage in your head
For married blokes you rarely see
They’re home with kids and wife
They don’t see much of former mates
They’ve got a different life
What is your name? – I cant recall
Have I met you before
And who’s that woman over there
Just standing by the door
I’m feeling rather sleepy now
I’ll have a nap I think
Me best mate Dan is coming round
We’ll go and have a drink
…ooo…
He turned and faced the other way
I was glad he didn’t know
That tears trickled down my cheeks
As I stood up to go
She came across and took my hand.
Then Ruth, she said to me
"It makes me sad to see him so
Lets go and have some tea
And we can sit and talk about
When he was our best man
Fifty years ago tomorrow
When we married, Dinkum Dan"
© Brian Langley Feb 2005