A Summer Break

Last Saturday – unfortunately

I failed to win the Lottery.

Instead of Anthea’s honeyed tones

I got a dose of broken bones.

I failed to win a million quid

But with one brief ungainly skid

Upon our tennis turf so green

Alas to reach that ball too keen,

I smacked the ground with such a thump

That raised on me a painful lump.

Swift off to Casualty they bore me

And now my offspring quite ignore me

As ankle swathed in clammy plaster

I lie and muse on my disaster.

Forgive me if I seem dismayed

As now on couch with leg all splayed

I grit my teeth – call me a cynic

But summer “break” in fracture clinic

Instead of sunny Tenerife

Has dumped on me a load of grief.

I should be lulled by balmy breeze

Not plastered from below the knees;

Bronzed and pampered like a duchess

Not hobbling round on blasted crutches!