Sup pea and ham soup in Town Hall Café, First meal out indoors since January Twenty Twenty. Things have changed in small ways. As ever in Lampeter soft rain falls. Sainsbury’s car park machine now cashless. My debit card soaked as I stand and tap. Hardware store still haphazard as ever, With screened social distanced one way system. We’ve no coins for supermarket trolley, Seems a lifetime since I spent real money. Jolly café hubbub strangely subdued, Reverential cappuccino coffee, Sipped whisperly, hushed tones, as if in church. We buy takeaway cakes to eat at home.
On the coastal path A sunny Sunday Walk cliffs to river, Down to Ceibwr Bay. Out in the water Bottlenoses play, Dreamy fish parade, Dolphins dance on wave, Swear I almost heard Trois Gymnopedies Bounce off rock face walls Out across the sea. Back upon cliff tops On blanket we sit, Greedy gulls hover Whilst we eat picnic. Sunny afternoon, It’s a perfect day, Late February, Down in Ceibwr Bay.
I stand on the cliff path Overlooking Smugglers Bay I see the setting sun Reflected in the waves If I half close my eyes I’m back down on that beach When everything I wanted Seemed within my reach
After skinny dipping we Lay there on the sand Shared our life stories, Had the same favourite band That was a great day when The salt dried in our hair
Think I can smell Rain in the wind Rain Rain Rain Rain in the wind.
We pooled our resources, Decided we would share Everything we had, started Living our dreams large We took off to Belgium And bought a Dutch Barge Sailed it to Haarlem where We lived for seven years Opened a piano bar Selling Belgian beers
Think I can smell Rain in the wind Rain Rain Rain Rain in the wind.
Was it cocaine Johnny Was it Captain Jack One those two devils Opened up a crack You fell in with Both of those guys Something had died Behind your eyes
Think I can smell Rain in the wind Rain Rain Rain Rain in the wind.
Like the dried up taste Of dust from the plain That advance warning Of impending pain This is where the start Of the end begins When you can smell Rain in the wind
Rain Rain Rain Rain in the wind. Rain Rain Rain Rain in the wind.
Think I can smell Rain in the wind….
Harry Rogers, In Harriboy’s Hut, May 2016, revised May 2021.
harri seeing red 