Not to Venture There

Written after the Fred and Rose West case

Not To Venture There


Down the steps to the basement room
where daddy keeps his tools
a spider lives in a sticky web
with other things as well
the other things I've never
seen and cannot quite be sure
just what they are or what they do
or why they're there at all
but mummy says to keep well clear and never venture down
so please remember when you're here
you're not to venture there

The tools are kept in the basement room
deep beneath the stairs
a sticky spider guards them well
from his web of dripping flies
some other things run on the floor
they look like furry hands
with matchstick legs and saucer eyes
and teeth like rusty nails
just what they do I'm not quite sure but mummy says to keep away
so when you're here you must remember
you're not to venture there

Some creatures furred with fragile legs
and looking goggle eyed
help the spider guard the tools
beneath the front room stairs
and in the corner silk like webs
hide the sticky mess
that coats the floor and other things
of which I'm not too sure
but mummy says you're not to look , no peeking round the door
remember that , so when you're here
you're not to venture there

Beneath the stairs amongst the tools
and spider saucer eyed
amidst the threads of gossamer web
and blood upon the floor
there scamper nimble fingers now
with fur instead of nails
the fur is old and streaked and grey
like auntie rose's hair
but mummy says I can't go down , down those dripping stairs
remember that when you are here
and don't you venture there.