1999

A symbol tells us that we should party

as this is the year it is

Lou tells us that this day is 'perfect'

and that he's glad that he's spent it with us

Twin harmonica players duet in the living room

busking along to the pulse of dance music

Bizarrely , people sing along to Rhinestone Cowboy

voices raised in earnest, without hint ot irony

We three toast the new year at the crossroads

holding miniature drams like Burns characters

The slow walk home , purposeful and mannered

mind numbed by drink, blissfully unaware of the time.

( This was written after a New Year party 21 years ago, and recently rediscovered by me when tidying out at home, I recall scrawling notes about the party once I got home, about the music played and things observed.)