Old Mother Yatesby

 

If you meet old Mother Yatesby in a Badonbury street
She might ask you if you've heard about Miss Jones,
Or Mrs.Simpson's Reginald, who married that Miss Smith,
And has had an operation on his bones.
But it seems he'll be alright (though they'll never have a child),
Which is more than she can say for Mrs. Banks.
For she never has been well since the second time she fell
Though she always says she's "Very nicely, thanks!"
Old Mother Yatesby thrives on other peoples' lives,
Or to be exact on other peoples' ills.
She knows whose going to die, and she knows the reason why,
And I'll bet she even knows what's in their wills.