Vexed by bosses, crooks and scoundrels
Toiled and laboured in Kingsmarkham
Saving damsels, felling villains
Never lured a drink or lark him
Though so upright, smug and moral
No one offered him a laurel.
Husband, father and breadwinner
Married once, but lost to cancer
Wife and bliss in one fell swoop
Lost his heart, the poor romancer
Parted from his sense of judgment
Gobsmacked, in St Lukeses summer
Until Jenny came, a godsend.
Married twice, this time with Jenny,
Wonder, wife and paragon
Who excels at cleaning, cooking,
Teaches Burden nightly booking
Even plays the violin deftly
But who plays the second fiddle?
Is the reader´s constant riddle.
Smartly dressed in sheepskin jacket
Modernized with new horizon
With his great deductive powers
Newfound literary skills
Waits for Wexford to retire
Ready for chief Griswold´s call
Just a sidekick ever after
Or will Rendell budge at all?
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