Villanelle Nr.07 — Tittle And Jot

Four years into retirement he’d got a plot    
and built a house exactly as he wanted it    
right down to the last tittle and jot.    
    
Twelve months later he spotted some rot    
in the back door - the bottom bit.    
Six years into retirement he got    
   
a new back door - it cost a lot    
kept the instructions, spare fittings, the chit    
even the off-cut - every last tittle and jot.    
   
Perfection is subjective - it’s not    
mastery, which has its own remit.    
Eight years into retirement he’d got    
   
a sauna in the cellar and a little yacht -    
built a custom garage for an ideal fit    
right down to the last tittle and jot.    
   
Bought the ultimate lawnmower bot    
had only to twiddle his thumbs, and sit …    
Twenty years into retirement he lost the plot    
every last tittle and jot.