Half-day closing at the Pheasant.

 Wednesday afternoon,quiet talk                
and laughter, shops closed                
for half day ,not all, but  some.              
It's that kind of town since gas lit streets                
and chemist shops now turned pharmacies                
were open 'til seven selling Zubes,                  
liquorice sticks,  paper cones and Kali.              
Quiet talk toasted tea cakes                  
coffee milk and sugar, laughter                
always laughter as shops closed                
Wednesday afternoon.                
                 
Conversations perhaps brothers                
talking soccer, drinking beer                
a pint in their hands                
replenished many times,                
the table round on cast black legs,                
chairs, oddments from an auction.                
I could not hear their conversations                
but guessed it would be soccer.                
I was alone and had a book                
Waiting for Rob I missed last Wednesday,                
He arrived at seven with a beer                
bought me coffee,I closed my book                
talked 'til late  then went home.                
                 
There's not much to say  about                  
sitting in a pub on Wednesday                  
On half day closing,                  
yet sitting here  thinking of liquorice                
sticks and Kali takes me to that wonder-land                
of,'Mischief Night' in Yorkshire,fire works                
and privet hedges; marbles in the gutter.                
                 
Why I thought of Kali              
I do not understand,do not know                 
Have  not dipped a liquorice stick,               
tasted Kali fizzing on my tongue                
for many years   ...   ...   ... memories  revive.                
Don't know where to find it but if I do,                  
I shall recall a Wednesday-half- day-closing,                
young men talking soccer.