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LATE ARRIVAL

After the rain the sun

after the sun the North Circular's joust

low silhouettes of abrupt streets

then sunset of Essex

no brochure could contrive.

 

    In the marquee the tableware set

reams of cutlery arranged

flattering on white

napkins rising majestically

small flower sprays,

a legion of glasses

and profoundly grinning the melon segments

with their tears of joy.

 

Gold painted chairs with bows and skirts

tiny cards for the special day

Mr and Mrs Silverstein

next to Nanny and the children

poised resplendent the toastmaster

gavel in hand. 

 

With five minutes to go, fever taut

the drummer arrived

perilous in his frantic rush

with a flash of black a drumcase crash

top table collapsing Poseidon adventure

in the fray too late for tempers

a host of caterers saved the day.

 

    Never trust a late musician

always the proudest

always the loudest

and, after the gig, the first away.

◄ SERIAL KILLER

NORTH WALES IN THE FIFTIES ►

Comments

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raypool

Fri 27th Jan 2017 19:46

A bit of personal history David I thought I might amuse. Sadly my humour mainly focusses on disasters rather than triumphs. I remember doing a BatMitzah once where there a thirteen candles lit individually. While the girl stood by a toastmaster said: "just imagine in a few years she could be on the front page of Playboy." Oops.

Col, what a track that was! Earth Wind and Fire, three of my favourite bands. I can still play the intro to Three Times a Lady by heart. Thanks for liking .

Aythangow Paul !

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Paul Waring

Fri 27th Jan 2017 14:55

Thanks Ray, another enjoyable tale! Paul

<Deleted User> (13762)

Fri 27th Jan 2017 08:38

excellent as always Ray and a vivid picture well painted. Like any carefully planned 'special day' things can go unexpectedly wrong and up until the penultimate verse everything was going to plan. To add that twist I feel has come from years of observation - having been there, done that and drank the free bubbly no doubt.

'After the rain the sun' got me singing 'After the love has gone' by Earth Wind and Fire but then I was a DJ not a musician back in my day

'...something happened along the way
and yesterday was all we had...'

I might have followed with 'you're once, twice, three times a lady' by the Commodores ? back in the day..

Cheers, Col.

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