Madrigal of naivety (David Solomons)

Early one evening, just as the moon was rising
I saw a young maid in the car park below
she met a stranger and they went off a while
when she came back she looked up with smile
she is a true saint helping all those strangers
I wish there were more like that gentle soul

Next day the postman brought a lovely letter
from a kind firm with a promise of cash
Such lovely people giving all that money
I wrote at once and waited a while
well I supposed that the money was in the post
so I booked in advance a cruise on the Nile

Used all my savings but had a lovely holiday
met some local people who gave me some "tea";
they gave me money to take it back with me
since they have friends who can't get it here
well, at the Customs it seems there was an error
and then I must eat prison food for a year

after a year I looked for that fair maiden
to ask her her views on the state of the world
her look of great pity gave me great comfort
she whispered sweet wisdom into my ear
"you'd better watch it, my manager is coming,
and he'll beat you up if you come back here."
So I returned a sadder wiser person
back up to my flat to the ring of the phone
they were just calling to sell double glazing
as I felt cold, I said "yes" straight away
their special offer was tied into financing
fifty six percent is a snip any day

Early one evening, through my double glazing
I saw my reflection wink sadly at me