The dog track is closed now

The rabbits packed his bags

And gone to find himself

The dogs hang around in street corner packs

Tripping up old grannies

And stealing little kids’ sweets

On Sundays chasing balls on the sand by the coast

The older ones retired and live in a home

Some others died early on

Not able to take the strain

 

The dog tracks cinders have been kicked

And blown over for the last time

The tannoy has gone quiet

The sandwiches are mouldy

And grass grows in tufts spilling out into the world outside

Rusty padlocks and chains on the gates swing and rattle

In winter wind

Whilst broken windows aerate and creak

And the ghost of calling card touts haunt the stands

Empty bottles and cans roll along paths

And rattle through the grounds

Over turf across cinders

Through gates to the other side

Unaware of plans for two hundred new homes

After autumns gone west

And winter cuts into the earth