Official now, gone deaf

My ears are out the door

Words no longer hurt me

Speech that used to bore

 

They first heard my mam

Absorbed a wall of sound

Listened to words of love

From lovers that I found

 

Recoiled from animosity

Thrilled to airs of Mozart

Stood by when I was cruel

Inflicting a broken heart

 

Soaked up words of love

Tuned in to Radio One

Eavesdropped the first

Words of my baby son

 

Pricked up at betrayal

Lapped up her excuses

Overheard the lovers'

Plans and secret ruses

 

Intercepted her calls

All ears at the court

As a judge declared

Our marriage nought

 

Got older just like me

Missing odd words

Before long silence

No more blackbirds

 

Music's the real killer

Hearing-aid like wool

No more Mahler 8

My favourite earful