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As the light declines

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Sitting in an old, damp boozer
Brasses polished, leathers gleam,
Wood, dark mahogany, glows.
In the dark daylight lamplight
Watch how the snow flakes tumble
Drift out of a heavy sky
Nature's green, and man's concrete grey, 
Covered for the day,  evolving into this whiter
Shade of pale.
Yes, a pint of porter's yer only man,
Nobody dares to disturb
This chapel of rest
Except when one of the four drinkers
Drags himself into the doorway,
Tipping his hat at the rule of law,
Draws on his second
Cigarette of the day,
As the hangover slips away,
A pint of St James's Gate Guinness
And a large Jameson whiskey
If you please landlord
He remembers The Dead
The final paragraph of James
Augustine Aloysius Joyce's final
Story in Dubliners: snow falling
All over Ireland:
All over the living and the dead.
He shivers slightly
Somebody walking over me grave,
He said.

 ©   

 

◄ the speech of angels

Digital love: Digital grief ►

Comments

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John Marks

Wed 29th Jan 2020 21:56

Thank you Greg and thank you Cynthia. Your appreciation means a lot to me. John

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Wed 29th Jan 2020 16:00

It sure is great to have superb literary references so expertly inserted into a fine piece. Much enjoyed.

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Greg Freeman

Tue 28th Jan 2020 16:43

Splendid, John. Wonderfully wintry and atmospheric, especially with the evocation of a glass of porter - oh, to be drinking one right now - and Joyce and The Dead. The power of that final page ...

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