Saturday, 18th April, 2020
A bit of an 'experiment'. The Thursday NHS/Key Workers clapping at our front doors reminded me of the Northumberland pit village where my grandad lived. Many miners would watch the world go by from the front door-step - smoking a pipe that 'never smoked'...
~
The middle three verses represent any one of those miners ...
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The front-door-step! Let's bring it back!
Our mission for today
Define its social function
In the old familiar way
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That well-scrubbed stone front door-step
An open invitation
To tell the world you're happy
For a bit of conversation
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" If people do not want to chat
That's fine, canny lad, by me
I'll smoke my unlit pipe
And take another swig of tea
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In winter, I'll be well wrapped up ...
In summer, barely dressed ...
Overcoat, with cap and scarf -
Simple shorts and vest.
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A place to watch the world go by
A place to sit and ponder
A place from which, just now and then
I'll rise and have a wander "
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We do not need to wear a vest
Nor smoke an empty pipe
And let's be clear - there's nothing wrong
With social chats on Skype!
~
But let's reclaim the front-door step
As natural place to be
Wave and smile - perhaps chat a while -
And take a swig of tea (or whatever ...!)
