Opertunity Poem by Bob Gibson

opening time without fail, outside the pub, was old Nipper Dale
a rented a room, he lived alone, no tv and no phone
his lived in clothes, from the sallies, kissed by the cobbles and the alleys
his Giro was paid on a Wednesday morn, and cashed whilst it was still warm
the pubs landlord supplied his need, eight pints of beer and a feed
the final call for drinks to end, found Nipper left with nowt to spend
bleary eyed he scuttled home, cold, drunk, and all alone
next day was just the same to the pub in wind and rain
a new face he would make his friend, and milk him till the bitter end
one day while waiting for the pub to open, a truck pulled up, no word was spoken
an eight foot roll of copper wire, met Nipper and his mate's desire
within an hour, it was stripped and burned, before the workmen had returned
two hundred pounds of copper core, disappeared out the door
after lunch the workmen saw, the reel of cable was there no more
Nipper was drinking his second scotch, as his mate Budgie was keeping watch
did anyone see that reel of wire? hoping that someone would conspire!
shaken heads, and lowered face, but Nipper Dale felt no disgrace