Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

A Night At The Astoria

entry picture

By concrete honey-combed Centre Point
Briskly paced towards Soho
Passing illuminated tooting taxis
Striding down the Charing Cross Road
To join a queue of  alternatives
Outside the stuccoed dome crowned bay
Under the fretted signage board
Spelling the name of the band who’ll play
Tonight, at the Astoria

Earnest in Camden High Street fashion
Invested Kensington Market attire
Sticky carpet hugged our tread
Glued our shoes to a concert flyer
And another, and another
Patchouli on the dance floor
In the mosh pit, down the front
Cramming narrow stairs, crowding corridors
Tonight, at the Astoria

Black buckled winkle pickers
DMs, Converse, cowboy boots
Only those walls knew what we were
Dressed in t shirts ripped and loose
Painted leather on our backs
Tassled skirts and Celtic gods
My bloke’s hat, flour dusted like Carl’s
A new militia danced in clogs
Tonight, at the Astoria

No more the legend, the dirty old friend
No more thoughts of getting out alive
The heavy handed security ejection
Of devising a way to get back inside
Romance could not save you
The Mayor would not waiver or
Heed the petition that meant you were loved
But you made us legends, you were our saviour
Those nights, at the Astoria

Astoriavenuesmusicgigsnightclubsnightlifeyouthclosuresculture

◄ Sorrento

Pavement Cafe ►

Comments

Profile image

Anna Ghislena

Mon 3rd Oct 2016 10:43

Thanks for reading MC and for your appreciation. Andy, thank you also for your kind words. Best. Anna.

Profile image

Andy N

Thu 29th Sep 2016 12:48

first rate stuff. know where the place is where you are talking but this is so well wrote, i really know it now.

excellent.

Profile image

M.C. Newberry

Mon 26th Sep 2016 16:22

Anyone who knows London would nod sadly at the image
it evokes...another "landmark" in London life consigned to memory: the price of progress and the cost
demanded by change.

Profile image

Anna Ghislena

Mon 26th Sep 2016 08:03

Thank you for taking the time to read it Suki, I am glad you liked it. Anna.

Profile image

suki spangles

Sun 25th Sep 2016 22:32

Love it. Really enjoyed your Sorrento poem too. Thanks for sharing. Suki

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message