Fish and Chips

By Parson Thru

Sat, 14 Sep 2013
  • 1827 reads
7 comments
 

 

I can smell fish and chips

 

But they're 1970s fish and chips

Fried in beef dripping

 

Wrapped in newspaper

The Yorkshire Evening Press

 

They're from Kate's

My nana's cousin

along the street in Crichton Avenue

 

Everything was in the family

back then

 

I took them in

through the iron gate

past the privet hedge

and down along the passage

 

The garden was always tidy

 

My uncle Terry's sitting at the table

in a tank-top and checked shirt

That creamy-brown colour

 

It must have been just before he died

 

The tea-pot's keeping warm beneath its cosy

Rubber extension on the spout

like the ones on the taps

 

Nana's in her house-coat

Waggoner's Walk on the wireless

and a coal fire in the grate

 

We didn't want for anything else

 

Not just then

Certificate U
Poem
Parson Thruses Dairy
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Such memories, and at the end - the statement  - like a slap!

Bee

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Such a simple life Bee.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Brilliant, PT.  The more you have, the more you want, I guess. 

Loved the stanza about the tea-pot and the tap spout.  They still sell these in our local hardware shop, but they do look rather dusty now.  Every home had them, though...way back then, along with those little metal discs that patched up enamel washing-up bowls. 

A lovely write, thoroughly enjoyed;-)

Tina

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Tina.  Thanks for the read.  I can't remember the enamel bowls, but I do remember being plonked in the side of the kitchen sink to be washed.  I'm picturing Ronnie Barker behind the counter of your hardware store.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Mark Heathcote on

Its like a 1970s postcard picture, loved it. ;-)

Mark Heathcote

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Glad you enjoyed it Mark.  One of those funny little thoughts that randomly runs down your arm and comes out the other end.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Art of the Diver on

Ah... Fish and Chips... the scurge of 5 star restaurants unable to replicate the smell of last months newsprint... or one of the greatest pleasures of the general public.. what a treat, captured and savoured within your words PT... thank you for sharing... Rob