Image: The future of Austin, board advertising the constuction of a wheelchair accessible fishing pier.

 

22.04.13: 85) For breakfast at a local Taco bar

Near the motel it ain't that far

A Guy asked "Do you want a woman for the time of your life?"

I said "No thanks at home I got a wife".

He shook my hand sayin' "from a married man that's what I'd expect

man you just got my respect".

So no condemnation I'll be givin

Just thinkin, it's a helluva way to make a livin'.

 

86) Last night, me Thom and Bob were seen on Shazza's computer screen

Every Saturday she knows the score, at Kick Butt she's seen Thom and Bob before

But last night a surprise, before her very eyes

Thrilled to the bones to hear his Yorkshire tones

She wasn't dreaming but soon screaming

"Well I never Oh my God! it's Trevor"

 

87) A downtown roam, to the Visitor Center to e mail home

So my family to tell tell, my tours goin' well

Then to Ladybird Lake I was goin' where cool winds were always blowin'

Coffee in a to go cup, soakin' the sun up

Then to an eatin' venus on Congress Avenue

Where they got food from the Asiann East and American West

Chose which ever you like best

Sure was mighty fine, the atmosphere when you sat to dine

But when the spot I looked upon, the food booths were gone

What was once an eatin delight was now a construction site

Progress they call it, to me it's insane, big business stamps on the little man again

 

Poems 88 to 92 were written on location at Barton Springs

 

88) At Barton Springs, te water sings 

By the river I'm layin'

Takin' stock, of life while across the river on a rock

There's a fiddler playin'

Watchin the river flow, see his elbow go

Bow across strings his fiddle sings

Tunes played with ease drift across on the breeze

Swim shorts he's wearin' his music he's sharin'

Neath the shade of a riverside tree, play on fiddler play for me 

Play a jig or do-si-do go fiddler go, go, go

 

89) She was happy playin' an' wanted to be stayin'

Sayin' "No" when grandma said "time to go".

Didn't want to snuggle, so put up a struggle

Thinkin' "alright I'll put up a fight'

Though small and wiry, like a hellcat she was firey

But it didn't last long, grandma was to strong

So to tell mom an' dad what a great time with grandma she'd had

But I wonder if they'll ever know it, she inspired a travelin' English Poet

 

90) Keep Texas wild keep Texas free

Keep Texas as it is for future generations to see

We don't want no concrete jungle or see steel girders piled

All we ask is a simple task, "Keep Texas Wild"9

Inspred by a car number plate

 

91) I got catfish on the table, English malt vinegar in my hand

Went an sprayed it on it, it sure tasted grand

Look at my bottle of vinegar thinkin' I'm glad I brought it

Wonderin' why the Texan's don't import it

But there's one thing you can be sure, now I've written about it

Whenever I'm in Texas, I'll never travel without it.

 

92) Tonights the night, at B D Riley's I'll recite

so there's no time for stayin' 

I walked back along the river 

An' the fiddler was still playin'

 

93) Laundry done an' it's all pressed, always want to look my best

When it was done I took stock 

Thinkin' "How come I always end up with one odd sock"

 

94) I went to recite but hadn't done a line

Cos' a disclaimer Ihad to sign

So there'd be no mistake, my photo they could take

So I signed and then did say, "Ok cameraman snap away".

 

95) At B D Riley's would they be blue

If the knew my granddads name was Riley too

Sounds good Yorkshireman with Irish blood

Part of the open mic hub, recitin' in an Austin, Irish pub

 

96) Not droppin' a note C K sang songs he wrote

Then Jackie was singin' her guitar really ringin'

An me recitin' where I'd been an' what I'd seen

Antonio made his arrival followed by Union Revival

Followed by me once again heard, breakin' up the music with spoken word

Brook sang for us to here and see, then once again it was me

Matt and John followed on

With Matt Halo takin' the time to entertain us in rhyme

Matt Pinero sang with a bluesy twang

Helen Hoffman came along and began with a protest like song

Matt Halo one more time, with his laid back rhyme

Thomas and Hall's song unfurled, singin' "It's a man's world"

Whispering eyes, three guitar playin' guys

We played, we sang, we recited, to a crowd that were delighted

At B D Rileys we done alright, in Austin on Monday night

My first night has been a blast, I hope it won't be my last

An' the night still weren't done cos' there was Clay Mitchell yet to come.

 

97) I came away from B D Riley's not feelin' blue

I'd recited and got free coke too

Walkin' out of the door I found, a 10 cent piece lyin' on the ground

So you could say my gig ended with 10 cents for services rendered

Now back to the motel, back to pack

Cos' tomorrow from Austin I'll be gone an' my poetic advnetures carry on