Seniors Network

THE MAN AT THE SHINY BLACK DOOR
Courtesy Greater London Pensioner Magazine Feb '03

'Promises, promises, promises,' said the man at the shiny black door.
'Just hear what I give, for soon you will live in a style as never before.'

So the people all murmured with pleasure, though some were a little unsure.
But the man seemed so kind and his smile so benign that the doubters seemed surly and sore.

For a while all the people were happy, as they waited for presents galore.
But when you added the sum, very little had come from the man at the shiny black door.

'Where are our gifts?' said the people.
'The things that you promised before?
We trusted your smile and your elegant style but nothing's arrived at our door.'

'Promises, promises, promises,' said the man at the shiny black door.
'You know I'm a giver, you know I'll deliver, and this time I'm promising more.'

The people were not quite as happy with the man at the shiny black door, but it seemed to be clear that the man was sincere, so they patiently waited once more.

But the promises just didn't happen, in fact, things were worse than before.
The people had less, but plenty of stress,
and they wanted to have it no more.

The people were getting quite angry and banged on the shiny black door.
They were feeling the pain of trusting again the man who had promised them more.

Out came the man with a flourish, and promised as never before.
His manner all style and vacuous smile,
but the people just muttered and swore.

He gestured and smiled and spoke yet again, as he stood at the shiny black door.
'I've promised you schools,
I've promised you health,
I've promised you police,
I've promised you wealth,
Oh, what could I promise you more?'

The people just stood in quiet despair, but they knew they could settle the score.
For when the time came they would not vote again for the man at the shiny black door.


By David Taylor,
Southend-on- Sea, Essex