A Portrait

Portrait.

One day he wasn't there
A void behind the counter
The sound of defeafening silence
'This parrot is dead!'
Sagacious London wide-boy brogue; Charlie.
"The English speak in statements;
Because they know everything".An accent-coach once said.
And Charlie did know everything and drole too.

Out of place, to think back; three decades older
Than the university girls serving
Flap-jacks, cappucinos and seaweed empanadas
But over half the regular customers
Were approaching fifty or passed
Sat among the artwork, come to hear Charlie...and
Watch the university girls

The owners, Boookie and Tristan loved him
Good for business, worked tirelessly
'Wounded sort, abandonned, there was prison,
Low self-estime, we'd pay him but you know..."
Charlie knew all the old Goon Show sketches and
Obscure tit-bits about musicians and bands and
Still went to gigs , six-foot three above youth.

The men collapsed in their coats
Bewildered by middle-age
And Charlie who gave them
License to play

"We had to let him go", Confided Boookie and Tristan
Back from a shaman retreat in the South of France.
"Inappropriate texts to some of the staff"
(Probably asked to be paid)
Knew his wit and sexual inuendoes
Might come back to bite him one day
And the jocular demand for kisses

His name is now taboo, imply the owners
With masks and smiles which really say
'We raise ourselves up on nothing'
And, 'We're glad you've picked a side'
And the ageing men collapsed in their coats
Even more bewildered by middle-age,
Watch the university girls serving
And dare not cross the line.