Poem number 7 as part of NaPoWriMo 2013 is a tale of a misspent youth
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE COFFEE ANN
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE COFFEE ANN
I’D GONE THERE TO SCORE
TWENTY PURPLE HEARTS IN HAND
JOHN LEE’S GOT “DIMPLES IN HIS JAW”
KATHY WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID
THE WEEKEND IT STARTS HERE
AT THE SAME TIME DOWN IN GREENWICH
MY OLD MATES WERE DRINKING BEER
THERE’S A BEATNIK IN THE CORNER
BY THE NAME OF ANGEL JOHN
HE’S BUSY WITH HIS SKETCH PAD
DRAWING WHAT IS GOING ON
ONE OF RONNIE’S RENT BOYS
WITH DYED BLOND AND SILVER HAIR
TWO BLOCKED GIRLS FALL AROUND
SPILL MAKE-UP EVERYWHERE
I DRINK HOT ORANGE JUICE
TO GET THE DOOBS WASHED DOWN
PRETTY SOON I WILL BE DANCING
IN ANOTHER CLUB UP TOWN
STEVE MARRIOT’S AT THE COUNTER
TALKING WITH TWO FAMOUS QUEENS
HE GETS A CRISPY FIVER OUT
AND HE BUYS ONE HUNDRED BEANS
IT’S JUST ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT
DOWN STAIRS AT THE COFFEE ANN
THOSE TEENAGE DAYS FELT JUST RIGHT
BEFORE I BECAME A MAN
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE COFFEE ANN
BLOODY MARVELOUS!
The Coffee Ann was a basement coffee bar situated just around the corner from The National Portrait Gallery and was run by two gay guys who subsidised their cafe by selling amphetamines. It was a great place and had one of the best juke boxes I’ve ever come across in my whole life. Frequented by Mods and queens it was just the perfect place to kick off the weekend in early 196o’s Soho.