The Oldest Man Alive by David Hornsby
Arts Richmond
Online - 03 September 2020

It happened, many years ago
One market day at Walthamstow,
A man called Adam Mickelthwaite
Unpacked his wares soon after eight.
A crowd had gathered round his stall
And Adam welcomed one and all:
“My friends,” he cried, “I’m in my prime!
I’ve lived for years untouched by Time!
Now I’m the Oldest Man Alive
And here’s the reason I survive:
The secret of eternal youth
Lies in these bottles... That’s the truth!
Roll up! Roll up!” exhorted Adam.
“You’ll have two bottles? Thank you, Madam!
(How charmingly he smiled at her!)
You’ll have a dozen? Thank you, Sir!
Come, try my remedy today
And keep the march of Time at bay!”
When Adam had no more to sell
He bade them all a fond farewell.
Yet Adam never did grow old...
One day he caught a nasty cold.
They called a doctor and a nurse
And finally, when he grew worse
His patent remedy was tried
And shortly afterwards he died.
His tombstone states, above the date:
“Here lies Adam Mickelthwaite.
Known as the Oldest Man Alive.
He passed away, aged thirty-five"
from ABOUT TIME, the 2019 anthology of shortlisted entries from The Roger McGough Poetry Prize. Copies of this Anthology can be purchased for £5 including P&P from Arts Richmond.
The Oldest Man Alive by David Hornsby
EGM and AGM
Wednesday 2 December 2020, 19:30
Online via Zoom
Young Writers Festival Competition
The Roger McGough Annual Poetry Prize 2020
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