Image: Shane Cooley singing at Ray Benson Stage, on Austin Airport departure concourse, we first met two years ago in the same concourse at a different bar. His singing inspired me to write a poem, he goy a copy he like it, and kept in touch, this year he invited me to recite it. So the poem that was written two years ago was recited in the location that it was written. The audience loved it.

 

01.05.18-151) How nice it was to see Thom again

He said my tour hadn’t been in vain

Told me the news he’s been receivin’, he could well believe in

To say the least, about the poetry ambassador from the East

And his annual poetry roam, on Texas his spiritual home

He opened the show but soon had to go

But we carried on with comedy, music, song an’ poetry

Then it was my time to do the Headline

Went down well some did tell

The one by one the remaining acts came on, but I couldn’t stay

I had to go pack for departure day

But I’d had a great time sharin’ mine

An’ listenin’ to other share their  music comedy an’ rhyme

Follow up to last night at Buzz Mill

 

152) Alarm sounds I’m up and dressed ready to be away

To start departure day

Fist stop ain’t far, next door for breakfast at the local taco bar

Then a mornin’ to do at Austin Wildlife Rescue

Once again it’s in the open air, feedin’ the possums and squirrels there

Like the previous animals they would soon be set free

An’ although it was only a few hours I was there

I’d spent my time givin’ ‘em love an’ care

Soon it was time to depart but not with such a heavy heart

Or with sadness smitten, cos’ I achieved something

The first time I’ve worked there without being bitten

 

153)  Left the centre an’ made my way to Thom’s to see if he was okay

David was there but hopefully Thom would soon back

He’d been wishin “Happy Birthday” to Magic Jack

We go for lunch I get a Bison Burger medium done an’ say with a smile

Hope I don’t get the runs on the flight, it don’t matter I got a seat in the aisle

Back at Thom’s we’re talkin’ an’ he comes in

The wisecracks fly thick an’ fast, but sadly time is soon past

Cos’ it’s almost the end of my roam, I gotta catch the plane back home

But not quite the end, at the airport I’m gonna listen to a friend

 

154) Call for fuel the cheapest I’d seen today

But it seemed the pump didn’t want to play

The attendant all knowing, soon got it going

So to the airport bound, the car rental return soon found

Dropped it off took time to say “Thank you”

An’ remembered it was still car 2

An’ I’m wonderin’ if it was because it was black, it kept my tour on track

Cos’ lighter colours don’t seem to last as long

Some mishap or mechanical failure come along

Car left behind, soon I’m checked in, customs not a bind

First thing text home an’ tell them I’m through

Then I got to find a certain guy before it’s time to fly

 

155) The bar name looks familiar an’ as I get near

I hear a voice comin’ out good an’ clear yes it’s Shane he’s singin’ here

He sees me we nod an smile, an listenin’s a delight

Great way to pass the time before my homeward flight

Then a suprising task, “You got your poem Trev?” I hear him ask

I say “yes I’ll get it, it won’t take long”

He says “ok I’ll do another song” poem produced, I’m introduced

As his friend an’ how the poem came about

He tells of the situation, I tell of the location

I recite pause, take the applause, we hug an’ it’s plain

It’s great to be sharin’ the stage again

I sit an’ listen till he finishes his show, an’ it’s almost time for me to go

We chat a while part with a handshake an’ a smile

Sayin’ we’ll keep in touch he wishes me a safe flight

An’ I’m walkin’ to the departure gate already thinkin’ of comin’ back

Meetin’ up again an’ once more hearing the room ringin’

To the sound of Shane Cooley singin’

 

156) I get to gate 2 an’ look at the queue no need to frown just sit down

An’ wait some more till they call group 4

It’s called an’ I’m away, once again a long walk to the plane

Not much fun, wish they’d get the alterations done

Then on board, pack stored, seat found no let’s get homeward bound

 

02.05.18-157) We’ve flown through the night, now it’s daylight

747 not exactly travelling heaven, not right, not exactly my best flight

In flight entertainment decide to fail,

It worked later but with the speed of a snail

One light between three, no use to me

Been lights out through the night haven’t been able to write

Still not long to go, we’re only 50 minutes from Heathrow

 

158) Back at Heathrow safe an’ sound after a 25 minute fly round

Customs cleared not a bad as before

Now patiently waiting for 1 flight more

 

159) Put on my “Yorkshire Lad” hoodie an’ boarded the plane

We headed for the runway it was pouring with rain

Was going like a song then things went wrong

There was a wait for take off an’ I find we’re now 45 minutes behind

Thankfully no connecting flight, it’ll be grand when we land

An’ I get to the taxi waitin’ at the end of my roam

To take me back over the Pennines,

To my family an’ Milo an’ my beloved Yorkshire and home

I decided to make this my last poem, as it seemed apt and the last 5 words once ended an article I wrote which many liked.