Napoleon York  1950s

          
              
Beside the bridge in Ousegate,            
Boyes stood all those years            
haberberdashery and toys            
clothes scattered, retail confusion            
not smart as Leake and Thorpe .          
 the  Ouse flows  slow and muddy         
since the Romans came in galleons                  
disembarking on the wooden jetty,           
King's Staithe now they call it.            
Sand banks against the bridge            
floods almost every year           
Down the steps            
beside Jay's furniture.            
Watch the barges snub their way            
beneath Ouse Bridge,            
statuette in the tobacconists    
Napoleon in his tricorne       
arm tucked in his jacket.,
selling cigars and matches           
Home and Colonial, Maypole,            
Hill's boat yard by Lendal Bridge            
rowing boats and steamers.            
Churches everywhere            
One on Nessgate corner,            
PC Dodsworth controlling traffic            
quick or lose your turn.           
All Saints Pavement,cyclists            
hold their breath,squeezing            
passed West Yorkshire buses            
double decked and red,            
Lantern Tower and Freemans' Church            
Hook's shop selling chess  sets,         
here in my cupboard . . . .            
bagatelle board in the loft            
I hear the silver balls            
rolling round from pin to pin            
haven't played for years,            
today they play it on a mobile.            
Cravens sugared almonds            
now the Viking Centre,           
synthetic smells, as once they lived            
working gold and silver,            
helmets swords and leather shoes.            
Yorvik Centre, long queues            
and five pound tickets.            
           
           
St Mary's Castlegate            
Russels on the corner            
Raleigh bikes and cycle clips.            
This my city as a boy            
until   I left for college.    .            
Other cities never  the same.         
Chalk walls wrap round ancient streets.            
A lake in the park and bowling greens,            
Raven in a cage on Sunday afternoon,   
often said hello'        
Model boats on the lake  until  
 the wind blows them to the island            
 entangled in the willows, enraging            
duck and, geese and moor hens.            
              
              
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