A Voyage Through London

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Sat, 30 Jul 2016
  • 2028 reads
6 comments
 

Long ago, in the nineteen-sixties,
I lived on the outskirts of London
in a place called Tufnell Park.
The area was tranquil and fine;
it was safe to walk after dark.
I travelled to work every day
making use of the Northern Line.

Had to change for Piccadilly station
and the journey caused me stress.
After careful consideration
I decided to change my address.
What better than Kensington,
I thought, and found some digs
in a road just off Church Street.

The new abode was such a treat.
Not far from Notting Hill Gate
I could reach Portobello Road
and, if the weather wasn’t rainy,
explore its Saturday market,
where I sought genuine antiques.
But, alas, I could never find any.

With my friends, at weekends,
I’d head for the Hammersmith Palais,
with  its incredible vast ballroom,
to dance to Joe Loss’s orchestra
and to listen to Rose Brennan sing
while dreaming of finding romance
or at the very least an amorous fling.

Since I arrived, I took this city to heart;
I was beguiled; didn’t need to be told
-  like Dick Whittington once was -
that London was paved with gold;
I knew that this prodigious metropolis
was endowed with riches far greater:
its history, its culture and its Art.

 

© Luigi Pagano 2016  

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

You paint a happy picture of settling in an adopted city. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I lived and worked in London many years, Rhiannon. It was my first port of call when I arrived from Italy in 1961 and I am still fond of that city, even though I am retired and moved north.
The poem is autobiographical and the places I described were really where I resided. I spent many enjoyable evenings at the Hammersmith Palais whose dance hall was so vast that one could lose one's friends in the crowd unless we fixed a meeting point.

Luigi x

P.S. I have found out rather late about the competition and  I'm playing catch up.

 

Submitted by jolono on

Glad you've entered Luigi, doesn't matter if its a bit late, always a pleasure to read your work. I could tell it was autobiographical. Written with such warmth.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thanks for the feedback Jolono, much appreciated.

Best, Luigi

 

Submitted by jolono on

Enjoyed this poem a lot Luigi.Some familiar places mentioned! Many thanks for entering the Comp.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Your kind comment is greatly appreciated, Jolono. The competition, which generated such a great interest, gave me the opportunity to recall happy memories of my association with the metropolis.

Cheers, Luigi