Plumbers etc

They have the upper hand.
They can tell you
they’ll ‘pop in 
about 11 o’clock’
to take a look
at your broken boiler
but they don’t have to
turn up.

You can spend
the next hour looking 
out your window
thinking ‘any minute now’
or you can relax
and decide
that if they haven’t arrived
by twelve
(or should you wait
till one?)
you’ll call again.

If it comes to that
what will their answer be?
‘Sorry mate,
I’ve been delayed.
I’ll be there about three.’

And maybe they will.

But if they’re not 
you’ll phone about four.
Or 4.30 at the latest.
Best not leave it
till five.

Mr Bisby