Tony the Tiler
Late up the stairs and after the night was
buzzing
In came Tony – looking as if from the wild
Bearing a smile to melt every heart that saw it
Fishing inside his coat for the change to come
in
There – by the bar – he stood with his friends –
contented
Lifting the room with warm open brilliant smiles
When – at the time appointed for him to struggle
“Please entertain us Tony” would set him
searching
Still in his coat – he patted a range of pockets
Glasses on nose –bemusement across his face
Fishing a folded wad of his crumpled paper
Smiling – he searched – at last with a gleam of
triumph
Pitching a note – then changing his mind –
dismissive
Smoothing his papers down – he hitched to pitch
Sang us the tale whilst sometimes adjusting
glasses
Reaching the end – he’d sigh in a mocked up
blessing
Other nights found him – coming without his
paper
A4 book was clutched to his chest in reverence
Laid on the bar – to search for the song he
wanted
Borrowing glasses – he looked through his
tiler’s notes
Organised now – performing his role and clowning
Giving back glasses – thankful - dismissive smile
Ready to sing – he mocked up the tale of losing
Studying lines – to bring out the shouted
comments
Tony – the cheerful friend – kept it up –
determined
That’s what we’ll see – imprinted within of him
Only the man who filled up the space with banter
Ever his eyes – his thoughtful and kindly humour
Tony the Tiler – the singer of songs he valued
Tony the man – the husband – whose ways were
kind
So we carry forever the man - our fortune
This is our right – our pleasure - to take him onward
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