Poetry - November 2024

Conran No More

My love and I used to love a walk
Down Marylebone High Street
Where you would see lots of lovely shops
And plenty of places for a special present treat
We would always go in the Conran shop
And admire the designs that are on show
We would be tempted by a large book
Or a soft cushion or a warm throw
They even used to have a café in there
And we would love to have a coffee and chat
It really did feel all homely in there
But changes over time put an end to that
The café being lost was such a bad move
And expensive furniture wasn't on the menu
Because people needed to tighten their purse strings
Meaning that no more soft sofas for you
It was nonetheless with some sadness
That we saw the one in Marylebone closed down
It was an essential place to shop for design
And we just had a resigned look and a frown.

(Happy memories of walks down Marylebone High Street and going into the Conran Shop - now all gone.)

Baker Street Blissful Hideaway

Baker Street seems always so busy
With tourists all in search of Sherlock
But if you escape a little bit down the street
There's a place which is a pleasing shock
It is all calm and quiet as you head below ground
With a vibe that is all peaceful
It is the bar of the Everyman cinema
Where you can have drinks and relax in full
The soft furniture and lovely staff really helps
As I decide on a Purity Ubu ale
My love is enjoying her wine, and all art deco
And it all seems so calm beyond the pale
We loved the retro Biba sign too
And it felt rather posh all inside
Even if we didn't see a film
As an escape from the masses, it's a good place to hide.

(Super smart move going into the bar at Everyman Baker Street - not the cheapest, but the relaxed calm vibe is just so wonderful to be in.)

Compilation Mania

We all do it and you can't deny it either
We make a compilation for someone
Whether it be for a friend or a loved one
You spend ages deciding on what tracks to put on
What mood you want to convey on there
Do you go for a night time vibe, or day time happy?
It's so complicated to do yet so easy to manage
Somewhere along the line you put a killer track on
Because you know it keeps the listener on edge
Or maybe something obscure that you think deserves better
No matter what you do, you know that they'll enjoy it
And treasure your kindness as well.

(I've lost count of the tape and CD compilations I've made over the years for different people - but that's the way life goes. We all convey a mood in there somewhere.)

No Wins In November

I was off to the Etihad Stadium
More in hope than in expectation
As Manchester City played again
And it was a dire situation
We had not won in five games
And not even managed a draw
I was hoping it would change toight
Against Feyenoord, could we score more?
We at least looked more likely
And we got a penalty close to the half
As Erling Haaland despatched it away
Which at least made me relieved - not half!
The second half had started well
And two more goals gave us a cushion
But then the substitutes came on
And it was a feeling of destruction
The moment they got one back
I felt a fragile feeling in the defence
And then another went in for three two
I couldn't see anything else make sense
It was a three three draw in the end
Which didn't make me feel very happy
No wins whatsoever in November
And I just had a day to forget, you see.

(Definitely was not the best result but a draw was better than the five defeats on the bounce.)

Playful Cat Haiku

Brian plays ball now
He loves to bounce it around
Pawing it away.

(Brian the cat loves playing ball with me - the bouncy ball he has is just so much fun.)