I have found a sock!  It was in the sleeve of
this shirt, and it may be that it
is one of the ones I was looking for!

I have found a sock.


There is war in the Philippines.
some one has exploded a
nuclear Bomb.


I have found a sock; now I must 
try to match it.


The war is spreading;
we may be in it
soon.


I wonder if the mate might be 
somewhere in here...
Did I tell you I had found
a sock?  It is a grey
one.


Yes, it's spread.  It's in South
America, and it looks like
a consortium of
international terrorists.
Where is the nearest silo
they might hit?
I know how to disarm it.
Your thoughts are occupied
with better things.


This is not like the other grey socks,
as I remember them,
but it may do as a match;
it is a warm sock.


They say the Government is
hiding somewhere around here,
afraid of the exploding silos
elsewhere.
I could go there and make it safe.
I will get dressed; it is snowing.
You are muttering
again.


This was a sock that Mother gave me, 
the year it snowed so heavily,
and was so cold.  It saved my foot.


I'm ready, but I'm worried.
It's cold outside and getting
colder, and all you do is go on 
about things you've found.
I must go.


Nevertheless, in some years of searching,
I have not found a sock
until today.


Help me with my heavy boots.
Help me with my extra coat.


I don't know if I ever saw
one quite so nicely
patterned.


I don't think I can make it.
I have heavy boots, but nothing
inside the right one,
And with only an hour left, 
I can't risk freezing
either foot.
We may have had it.
Goodbye, Fool.  I do love you
quite a lot,
in spite of things...


As I was saying...
Some time ago....
Hhm-hmmm.
In the sleeve of my old red
shirt,
I.  Have.  Found.  A.  Sock.

©  Copyright, 2000; Malcolm Beckett