TROUBLE IN METROLAND

by ray pool

Wednesday 12th July 2017 9:56 pm

Sammy Friedland is on his exercise bike again

looking out through diamond leaded glass.

Becky labouring at Schubert in the music room,

smells of kosher cooking seeking entry

around familiar corners.

His old primeval blood finds its way

through the looking glass heart

with its strictures of spreading pain

he reaches for a pill.

"goys and girls come out to play

nursery rhymes get in the way...."

the Schubert is smudging.

Something sinister pulling the tightrope again

trouble in Metroland.

He considers options

the state of play.

The family always stuck together

lending borrowing fencing with barbs

now he could hold his head up

respect earned and fought for.

A line of trust, that's how it's always been.

This house the least proof you needed

just shy of a thousand after the war

after fleeing from the pogroms

the proving of an East End business

now the avenues of Golders Green.

In Brent Cross he was confused,

a new breed about, sullen and distinct

with agendas like old defenders

that came across with the grandfathers

different races

unfamiliar faces.

Then it was Mosley and his whiter than shite bother boys.

But this felt somehow different

a tsunami after the waves goodbye

a future nobody might deserve

but at last the pain is going off

and Becky says the soup is ready to serve.

Comments

raypool

Fri 14th Jul 2017 19:42

Suki I'm much obliged for your encouraging words. I find this kind of tale fairly easy on the brainbox, don't ask me why; I think all my life I have living other's lives for them with mannerisms tensions attitudes all absorbing into me. I think it's a psychic thing. With a dollop of Ray Pool I mix it all up and serve it to you lovely readers. Glad you picked that line especially - a trick of the light. The readings I am beginning to enjoy to try nuances - a real challenge, thanks so much.

Mark, you have got about a lot I must say. Never a dull moment in your memories. Pre Bengali period the Jewish influence and before that the Huguenots for the weaving.
Fascinating place still. I remember a Raelbrook factory in Blackhorse Road Walthamstow. Talking of local nicks, news is more closures - where will all the blue lamps go?
evening all! Anyway pleased you like it.

Thanks for the like Michaela - attagirl !!

Ray

Ray

M.C. Newberry

Thu 13th Jul 2017 17:47

Betjeman updated! And I'm sure Sir John would wholly
approve of this strand of London life interwoven with
the intricate changing fabric of this great city. I was
taken back to my early working days in the docklands of 1960s East London: getting a suit made in a surviving
tailor shop (windows barred, its few occupants hunched
over their workbenches) holding out alone among the remaining ruins of post-war Cable Street. I heard
later they had moved to North London: no surprise
there. Then there was Gottleibs selling Guards and Rael-
Brook to appreciative customers in their shop in Bethnal Green Road just west of Cambridge Heath Road E2 - and
just down the road from - and convenient to - the local nick. One family rep. with his suitcase of samples - reputedly haunts the old New Scotland Yard where he used to be a regular well-liked visitor seeking orders
from a reliable "captive" customer base.
A treasury of tales from the East End of yesteryear -
up and away when the opportunity came.

suki spangles

Thu 13th Jul 2017 16:56

Hi Ray,

I think this is brilliant.

If this did come out as a stream, like David Suggests, I envy you. So effortless in your evocation of both the scene, the man, and his assessment of his own history - which might soon become history. Time moves on, but to what:

A tsunami after the waves goodbye..

Perfect reading too..

Suki

raypool

Wed 12th Jul 2017 22:39

Bless you David, you're my finest critic in the nicest possible way. Not sure how hard this was, like a story I told myself really . All the ingredients I have absorbed over years of Jewish gigs and stories. I do like to link areas with hard tales that give London its character as you know, so i'm flattered you notice that. Where that 3rd line came from I don't know. As for the reading, I have a tired drawl I use often, like the Michael Caine school with no blinking!
I could have gone a bit guttural in places and made it more feisty as if a bit bitter, but as you say, close to the wind perhaps.
Hope you ok mate, trust you're working your way back to ..... whatever. xx

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

TROUBLE IN METROLAND

Comments

Please consider supporting us