Albert lay on the grassy bank.
Damp seeping through his ragged clothes.
It was peaceful here.
No-one to hassle him, move him on.

He rubbed his bruised, kicked legs.
His bottle was empty and he needed a drink.
He tossed it into the murky canal.

Stomach rumbling, burping loudly,
he thought back to his youth.
Leaving home with few possessions
and meagre savings
Strong, rebellious, he'd show them.

It was fun living rough ... At first.
Anyway, it was only temporary ...

Then.