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,                    
shall recall a Wednesday-half- day-closing,                  
young men talking soccer in the Pheasant
on a Wednesday afternoon.