retribution

Fifty years ago almost
to that very special night
and that little bar where
I fell in love at first sight.

my black eye was throbbing
there was a bruise on one cheek
my body felt like a broken boxer's
for the rest of that whole week
and the boys were all laughing
at the lesson I'd been taught
broken eleventh commandment
thou shalt not get caught

it was outside her house
where I'd been seen
they thought I was arriving
didn't know I'd already been
and I wasn't really bothered
about my aching body and head
small price to pay for the hours
we'd spent cuddled in her bed

that was the secret neither told
I wore my bruises without shame
and in the little village she
kept her virtuous name
and in the same pub
when they both came in
very secretly we would
exchange knowing grins

and he bought me a drink
to show no hard feelings
and we both left the bar
maybe both slightly reeling
and we both got on
with just living life
but I never forgot the time
of secret love with his wife

Fifty years just flown
in the twinkling of an eye.
I never did get the chance
to tell her a proper goodbye.

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