London, Nov 18: A poem written by singing legend Sir Paul McCartney for his friend Spike Milligan is set to go under the hammer next week in London.

The handwritten poem will be auctioned by Bonhams on November 25 as part of a large sale of Milligan memorabilia.

On one side of the paper contains the poem written by the former Beatle titled ''The Poet of Dumbswoman Lane'' while on the reverse he drew a rough cartoon titled ''The Nutters of Starvecrow Lane''.

Written in blue pen, and addressed to Spike, Man, it reads: "The voice of the poet of Dumbwoman''s Lane/Can be heard across vallies [sic] of sugar-burned cane/And nostrils that sleep through the wildest of nights /Will be twitching to gain aromatic insights/The wife of the farmer of Poppinghole Lane/Can be seen from the cab of the Robertsbridge train/And passengers comments will frequently turn/To the wages the wife of a farmer can earn/The poet of Dumbwoman''s lane sallies forth/He is hoping for no-one to see," reports the Telegraph.

Sir Paul signed it endearingly "With love Paul (YESTERDAY'S MAN.)" Its cartoon features a man and woman wearing large smiles and scruffy haircuts, both giving a thumbs-up sign.

It is estimated to fetch 1,500 pounds to 2,000 pounds.

According to Milligan''s widow Shelagh, who is selling the collection, Sir Paul often used to drop into their house in Rye, East Sussex, for a cup of tea when he was visiting a recording studio in the town. (ANI)