NaPM April 30 2016

[Keith]

Tea in the park

Edit 1
Sparrows fight over scone crumbs
beaks covered with jam and cream,
serviettes swirl underneath
the faded bandstand.
A lone trumpet bends blue notes
to the spit of rain that calls home
the long shadows of a cool breeze
and rustles a curtain across the park.

The smart marching bands
have loosened their ties,
broke ranks to filter through the quite
of the towns narrow streets,
away from the clap of bunting
and ice cream faced crowds.

Sheets of folded music soften
in the summer shower,
ink washed codas ending
under mud soaked feet.
The weary brass section
looks to the burnt out baton
as the conductor taps
for one more request.

The hiss of rain stops,
hurried legs slow
and the sun throws itself
over the trees, a grateful reward
for the die hard umbrellas and folding chairs
that raise an empty wine bottle
in full recognition of the achievement.

orginal
Birds fight over scone crumbs,
beaks covered with jam and cream.
Serviettes swirl underneath
the empty bandstand
as a lone trumpet bends blue notes
calling in the long shadows,
a curtain that closes across the park.

The smart marching bands
have loosened their ties,
braking ranks, off beat
to filter through
the quite of the city streets.

Sheets of folded music soften
in the rain, erased codas end
under mud soaked feet.
The crowds are going home
to a slow drum beat
as they approach
their time of rest.

The weary orchestra
looks to the burnt out baton
as the conductor taps
for one last request.