The smell of damp sawdust

filled the nostrils

of the man out of time

and darts,

dominoes and cribbage

the only games on his mind;

the last thing he expected

to find that night

as he strolled into this new adventure ground

was a nurse, out with a friend,

drinking tempered halves

from a dimpled glass,

catching her eye, he surprised

himself by smiling

and fell in love

with the ambience and strength

provided by walking in

on The Bird In Hand.

Ian D. Hall 2018