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Wonderful Worthing Promenade Part 2

Candy floss, seaside rock, smoothies, and flags sporting Union Jacks Replace the old traditions of striped deckchairs And Kiss-Me-Quick hats. Chipwicks for our salt and vinegar fries And their pole-and-line freshly caught local Cod; The Vintners Parrot: For thick sizzling steaks, Cabernet Sauvignon, roasted hams cut high off the hog. Grandads wearing knotted handkerchiefs, their pleated trousers Rolled up to their knees, Splashing with squealing little children Who squabble and inhale upon the bracing sea breeze. Linos, gritty blankets, wicker picnic hampers, Out of reach - forever lost - far bobbing balls; Whilst over it all: The song of the swelling sea With its constantly reverberating roars. Red parboiled fathers of odd shapes and all sizes Squeezed into ill-fitting string vests; Lumpy roly-poly mothers in one-piece bathers, Highly irritated - doing their very vexed best! For in the absence of pollinating plants, flowering bushes And budding trees: A droning procession hovering across your checkered tableclothes - Swarming across sugared cakes, potted meats and creamed cheese. Little George thrashes away with his crabbing net; Maisy, beside herself, aboard the plodding donkeys slow, agitated gait; Great aunty Mabel daintly glowers, and then - Demands the absolute necessity of reclining prostrate! Punch swings his cruel bat at Judy; Fat old uncle Phil gives a loud gluttonous snore; His long past-caring wife of forty years turns her back to him... Reopening her paperback romance on page twenty four. Lashings of mountainous vanilla Cornish heaped onto a crisp Yellow cone; The decorated sandcastle competitions: Adorned strange starfish, seaweed hung, Complete with available cutlery brought from the home. Just evocative memories are jolly August-Bank-Holidays once played out Over this tremulous sounding stage... Now: only the anglers, the joggers and cycling keep-fitters... Marking-time throughout electronic clicks from loudly brazen, flashing arcades. Half-oval shaped Lido cafe for morning coffee: Bring the fidgeting kiddies - bring the dog. Beech house fronted terrace for live nightly music - Excellent southern brewed ales of cold frothy amber grog. And if in your ambles your appetite has been well whetted By the smells from a flotilla of mouth watering fares: Coast Cafe De Artistes just east of splashpoint - Seaside bistro of the most "de la extraordinaire"! Austere gas lamps flicker to awaken in the groping twilight As dimming outlines begin to hurriedly fade; Black asphalt drifts into the distance of your lost horizons - Thus witness the charming elegance of nightly Parisian masquerade. The drawing radiators are starting to bang and gurgle; Chambermaids pull firmly across upon splendid silken cords... When the stiff colonel tops up with another whisky and soda - And the Storm petrel over beautiful Worthing promenade twitters and calls! (.....Oh how i so very much adore you magnificent old Worthing town!! )

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015




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Date: 7/8/2015 9:56:00 PM
A wonderful presentation of days gone by. Enjoyed the read very much. A7 my friend!!
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John Fleming
Date: 7/9/2015 12:58:00 PM
Thank you very much, Robert, for your visit and kind comments. I hope you are in good health and doing well! My very best regards! :) john
Date: 6/13/2015 7:05:00 AM
I know it took too long; but finally Tweets away. I hope this message finds you well John, and may we see many more of your words.
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John Fleming
Date: 6/14/2015 7:54:00 AM
Hi, Scott. Thank you very much for the visit and positive comments regarding my poems...it is most kind of you! My very best regards!! :) john.
Date: 6/7/2015 4:44:00 AM
Reads very much like what I think of years gone by..Very descriptive and expressive work..Sara
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John Fleming
Date: 6/7/2015 5:33:00 AM
Hi, Sara. So very nice to see you again; thanks for the kind comments. I hope you are keeping well. My very best regards!! :) john.
Date: 5/21/2015 9:11:00 AM
Aww! the salt sea air, and the roar of the ocean! JF, I'm never far from the beach that I love, (Venice Beach, California). You took me there with Worthing Town. Stop by and read my Venice Beach poem. All the best Ken
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John Fleming
Date: 5/22/2015 3:57:00 AM
Nice to make your acquaintance, Ken! Many thanks for the compliments! I will take a good look at your poems very soon. My very best regards!! :) john.
Date: 5/13/2015 12:45:00 PM
Hi John. Came back for another read. Waiting to read a new one from you. Hope you are keeping well. :-) Kim
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John Fleming
Date: 5/14/2015 1:46:00 AM
Hi, Kim. Thank you for your visit. I hope you are keeping well! I have been very busy of late. Hopefully i can find some time to write again in the very near future. I have been working on an old poem i wrote some years ago; not sure if it would be acceptable on "Soup" though...Lol! My very best regards, Kim!! :) john.
Date: 4/25/2015 6:41:00 AM
I can relate to some of the beach and beach house scenes and imagery here but to capture it in artistic words and detail with snacks and activities and more is yor awesome poetic effort. A delight to read and it makes us picture it all vividly. Great to read frm u again.
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John Fleming
Date: 4/25/2015 3:30:00 PM
Many thanks my friend! Your kind comments are very much appreciated! All the very best...cheers!! :-) john.
Date: 4/24/2015 2:53:00 AM
hello john... waiting for something beautiful from you.. thanks for coming around!.. huggs
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John Fleming
Date: 4/25/2015 3:26:00 PM
Hi, Nette. Its really nice to see you visiting my poems once again. I hope you are keeping well. I have not had any time for writing of late but hope to make some time very soon. My very best regards! :-) john.
Date: 4/18/2015 9:52:00 PM
Your poem had me in the moment with you John with this colorful and exquisite tapestry you weaved of Worthing town! 7+ I would love to visit and see it has you have described it.
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John Fleming
Date: 4/19/2015 1:35:00 AM
Connie, if you can make time, please read Philip Larkins poem..."An Arundel Tomb". "Our almost-instinct almost true: What will survive of us is love". Larkins most quoted lines! My very best regards, Connie!! :) john.
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John Fleming
Date: 4/19/2015 1:28:00 AM
Connie, it truly is lovely. Every time i visit i see more and more character about the place. Not just the town but the surrounding areas. Just up the road is Littlehampton with its flotilla of little sailing craft; and Arundel with its gigantic castle...Ancestral home of Englands premier Duke...the Duke of Norfolk! I am going to write so much more about this place...given the time and opportunity! God bless you, Connie! :) john
Date: 4/4/2015 6:59:00 AM
I can see by your words that you love this place. That you have watched it change, and enjoyed peering into its history. You've captured all that you feel so well. I can also see Graham Greene's "Brighton Rocks" all over again. Thanks I've enjoyed these reads very much. My Tweeting finger is itchy if you are interested in sharing these poems outside PS.
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John Fleming
Date: 4/4/2015 4:13:00 PM
Hi, Scott. I would be very happy for you to share my poems with whoever you see fit. Words belong to no man! And when all is said and done: Poems are just that - words! My very best regards, Scott!! :) john. P.s You are quite correct...I do love this place!
Date: 4/1/2015 4:15:00 PM
John I don't see this as a travelogue. You would never see this kind of elegance in a travelogue. This to me is more like a painting by one of the masters, absolutely brilliant.
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John Fleming
Date: 4/1/2015 8:06:00 PM
Armand, you have just awarded me the finest compliment I have ever been given regarding my humble efforts at writing poetry - I am gratefully indebted to you!! Your friend always! :-) john.
Date: 3/30/2015 10:50:00 AM
enjoyed the charming details of this town's unique vignette, john.. what a delight!.. huggs
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John Fleming
Date: 3/31/2015 9:55:00 AM
Good to hear from you again, Nette. I hope everything is going well! I am always happy to see you visiting - My very best regards!! :) john.
Date: 3/30/2015 3:42:00 AM
Thank you, Rose. Yes, Worthing town truly is quite wonderful! All my very best!! :) john.
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Date: 3/27/2015 11:26:00 AM
This confirms my comment on your most recent post, the part 1. All those little anecdotes just add to the charm of the place. Thank you, JOhn for sharing. Another 7. Hugs! Kim :)
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John Fleming
Date: 3/28/2015 6:52:00 AM
Many thanks, Kim! I am pleased you enjoyed the poem. Cheers!! :) john.
Date: 3/26/2015 11:27:00 PM
Such colorful descriptions of the town folk. this is brilliant!
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John Fleming
Date: 3/27/2015 3:01:00 AM
Thank you, Andrea. Your praise is, as always, highly regarded by me!! Best wishes!! :) john.
Date: 3/26/2015 12:30:00 PM
Your adoration of the town is clear, John. Julia, xx
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Date: 3/25/2015 4:55:00 PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/814083398672155/ Participate in poetry competition and win cash prize
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John Fleming
Date: 3/26/2015 2:09:00 AM
Thank you, Asma! Your kind comments are much appreciated!! :) john.
Date: 3/25/2015 3:08:00 PM
this is a beautiful write JF,. keep up the good pieces I gave it a 7. LB God bless you
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John Fleming
Date: 3/26/2015 2:07:00 AM
Thank you, Louis! It is my great pleasure to make your acquaintance - My very best regards!! :) john.
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Asma Memon
Date: 3/25/2015 4:55:00 PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/814083398672155/ Participate in poetry competition and win cash prize

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