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Tea Rooms

I've become a daytime, weekday friend,
I never get invited out at weekend.
I'm part of a sub-class who's without a bloke,
lives alone on a pension, usually broke.
From Monday to Friday, between ten and five,
I'll share a latte, a lunch or a drive.
I'm game for a laugh, won't do kiss-and-tell
so I come in handy and scrub up quite well.
We meet in tea rooms, kiss cheeks 'cross the table
I listen & chat, make 'em laugh if I'm able.
And when the time comes to ask for the bill
we stiffly unbend and head for the till.
I insist that we share the cost fifty-fifty
I'll pay my own way - I've always been thrifty.
Besides, on my way there from the bus stop
I'll have picked up a bargain at the charity shop
so then I don't mind going home on my own
and there's my cats and the laptop so I'm not really alone.
But, sometimes on Sundays, when Facebook's gone dead,
cos everyone's out with their loved ones instead,
and the phone doesn't ring, the book's a lost cause
and I'm stuffing chocs in my mouth without pause,
I stop and wonder where it all went wrong.
I'm the opera singer who hasn't a song,
I'm the magician whose trick went up in smoke,
the comic performer who can't see the joke.

The 25th Floor ►

Comments

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John Coopey

Wed 5th Nov 2014 21:27

I concur with the comments so far, Judi. But the image which got me hooked was "stiffly unbend". We're alright so long as we keep moving, aren't we?

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Anthony Emmerson

Wed 5th Nov 2014 17:31

Hi Judi, and welcome. I hope this isn't too literal! Having said that I think tea rooms are wonderful places - tea, cake and people-watching - what's not to like? Hope you have fun here and would love to see more of your work.

Regards,
A.E.

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Greg Freeman

Wed 5th Nov 2014 16:18

Judi, this is the real deal. Rich, and immensely enjoyable. As good as Wendy Cope, but warmer, somehow.

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Judi Strega

Wed 5th Nov 2014 15:21

Oh my goodness - a warm welcome indeed! How very kind you have all been so far. It gives me courage to share more work. Thank you.

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M.C. Newberry

Wed 5th Nov 2014 14:30

Consistent in content and consistently enjoyable.
I'm thinking of a female Betjeman for its honest take on the human condition - a view than manages
to be "in your face honest" without maudlin self-pity for a situation that is surely played
out across the country in any day or week.

<Deleted User> (9882)

Wed 5th Nov 2014 12:16

Welcome indeed Judi!....Please Miss...
can we have more?


x

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Laura Taylor

Wed 5th Nov 2014 09:49

Poignant, chin-up kind of stuff, really well observed and not afraid to show vulnerability. As poets, we have to reveal ourselves, if our work is to contain any nugget of integrity or truth.

Those last three lines are killer, btw. And I can almost see them being developed.

I see you're new here Judi - hello, and welcome to WOL - I hope you find as much joy, support, and encouragement as I have these last few years :)



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Graham Sherwood

Wed 5th Nov 2014 09:17

Ah! you've done it Judi, well done. I was too late with the advice. God to see you've made a start!

This is really thought provoking work. The light and dark, the humorous and serious all wrapped into one.

Well done,

Graham

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