Almanac Poetry: Good Old Unca
[Source: Wikimedia Commons.]
Good Old Unca
My mate Tom had an uncle
he disparagingly nicknamed ‘Unca’.
For three years Unca freeloaded
at Tom’s family home
where all he did was guzzle sherry
and listen to the races.
Unca annoyed the shit out of Tom
because of his slackarse ways.
Before long, Tom found it hard
to even grunt at the bloke.
He’d have whooped and danced with joy
if he heard that Unca was leaving.
How it ended, I didn’t know
till I talked to Tom later.
Attempting humour, I said,
‘Well, at least he didn’t knife anyone.’
Tom raised an eyebrow,
‘Actually, he tried.’ Then related the tale
of how tottering, rheumy old Unca
pulled a blade on Mick (Tom’s dad)
at the breakfast table.
‘Come on, M-Mick. I’ll h-have ya.’
stuttered the tiny, pathetic fool.
‘Pack up your gear and bugger off!’ roared Mick,
dismissing the threat with the wave of his hand.
Unca cowered.
He left within the hour,
disappearing, somewhere down the road,
into a dark brown bottle.
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws…I’m Feeling Too Indolent, is available HERE
Read more Almanac Poetry HERE
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Love it KD, felt like I was there being suffocated by Unca’s presence. Last terrific line brings the sad tale to it’s inevitable conclusion.
Thanks, Rick.
Yes, the tale told in this poem is certainly sad, as well as, I feel, possessing a kind of grim, dark humour.