Two English men abroad, eccentric country, drunk and elegiac

Appear and feel out of place as they sit drinking whisky

In a hotel bar with little ambience and a little hostility, with their hosts drinking nothing

More than copious amounts of coffee and curious looking tea.

 

The two written off poets watch with a grin as the waiters and bar tenders

All dressed in company suits and corresponding company smiles

As they reposition back and forth and taking orders to the timing of low piano keys

Like Liberace, so loud in an elegant casual style.

 

The senior man smokes on his cigarette, scratches at his trim beard and

Whilst explaining to his less erudite and eccentric younger friend

That integrity, endevour and honesty is all very noble

But the love of total poetry is a means to an end.

 

The undeveloped man pays attention in part to every silent and important phrase

Whilst catching the eye of the woman casually mouthing her clandestine thoughts across the bar.

“Out of your league.” is uttered wistfully and whispered behind old whiskers kindly,

“She will not appreciate the finer points of poetry, put her down and have another jar.”

 

They part as good friends must, the playful man in pursuit of the clandestine but memories remain

Of when they took on the world and came wonderfully second

Stirs the immature poet to keep writing

As he learns weeks later that his friend has died, now with own poetry muse reckoned.

 

Ian D. Hall

This is a re-working of a poem from 2004 originally titled Friendship.

Dedicated to the memory of Michael James Nolan. Poet and friend.