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And now, here's some light verse, about time too!. It wasn't meant to be thus, but the poem took on a life of its own. I haven't had such fun (in writing) since "Genome". I subsequently discovered an unintended (subconscious?) reference to an episode of a famous British sit-com. Any guesses?
The title, "Alas", is a sound-play on "Hellas", i.e. Greece. Sit back and smile, or even laugh!


Alas

Sweat-drips ooze from his pensive brow
to smudge his newly written words.
The sun assaults his balding head.
Perhaps a hat or factor sixty block?
Oh no; more paper is priority.

The local shop offers a toilet roll.
It's clear , to this poet at least, that Greeks
can't understand plain English. Lord Byron
never suffered for his art like this.

Two ouzos later, he tries the paper:
his epic starts to flow. Aglow, he pours
another, misses the glass, and Illiad
mark 2 is used to wipe the mess.

"It's gone!" he wails, trying to unravel
his sodden masterpiece. By now he needs
the toilet: alas no paper. The same
shopkeeper donates an A4 ream for free;
his ancient walnut face creased with a grin.


Andrew McGeever
Corfu, July 2004.

Good call, Andrew ~ laugh, I did ! Love its lighthearted irony, and how poetic justice plys [spelling to keep the pun intact ] its trade. When I saw the title, I thought it to be a sound play on "A lass." Sounds like you had a great time on Corfu .

~ Elizabeth

The "famous British sit-com" (sic) was Fawlty Towers, and the episode was entitled "Communication Problems". It's one of only twelve.
Yet the genius behind Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, (and my silly verse) is Terrence (Spike) Milligan.
Andrew.