On Cottingham Green

On Cottingham Green Have you got a light he asked Breathing whisky fumes in my face The hand rolled ciggie in his mouth Miraculously staying in it’s place As he lifted the bottle Up to his lips Then returned it to its carrier bag After one or two sips. He said he was owed thousands From a PPI claim The money was there somewhere Waiting in his name. If they got a move on And didn’t pay it too late He was going to buy a caravan And drink whisky by the crate. We sat there enjoying The early spring sun The he mounted his byke And was off at a run The bottle in its bag dangling From the byke handle bars As he shot across the street Narrowly missing two cars. I watched him ride down the road, Through a red traffic light, And then he turned the corner And was gone from my sight. I’d been feeling desolate after Visiting the grave of my wife But after chatting with him Felt I was coming back to life On Cottingham Green.