Roath Park, Cardiff

PARK LIFE

— a park bench speaks —

Blur, 1994 — "Confidence is a preference for the habitual voyeur of what is known as…" Park Life.

IF these walls could talk! If I was a fly on the wall!

Well, I'm a talking, listening park bench.
All ears, in a figurative sense.
See what I did there?
Demonstrated my command of language.

Fuckin marvellous.
The dog's bollocks.

Self taught, I am.
Seen and heard it all.
Not bad for a bench.

— but I am only a park bench.

· · ·

You'll never guess what happened last night!

(That's rhetorical BTW, I don't want a reply)

A fuckin kid carved Daz for Shaz on my back.

I'm not a fan of tattoos and wanted to say to him —
Love is such an ephemeral thing often confused with passion or lust.
Do you really care for Shaz's welfare?
Do you want to make her smile, bring her a coffee, look after her when she's got a snotty cold?

Or is it just the shagging?

— but I'm only a park bench.

· · ·

That bloke came today.
He put some coins in a plastic cup on me.

WTF is a wonderwall?
Repertoire's a bit limited.
Still nobody stays for long.
10p max.

He's a skinny bugger, hard to tell how old.
Grey stubble.
Hands shook a bit.
Nice voice, mind.
Proper Welsh lilt to it.
Thanked them for every 10p.

That takes effort.
Caring about other people.

— but I'm only a park bench.

· · ·

He came back when it was getting dark With a smelly old sleeping bag Guitar case for a pillow. People tutting and looking away Crossing to the other side It's getting cold There's a smell of rain in the air Poor sod

— But I'm only a park bench. All he's got.

· · ·

I waited tonight Same cold air Same rain hanging heavy. No footsteps No rib wracking cough No guitar case pillow Just the wind Wrappers skittering A dog pissed on my leg He didn't come And I realised He never would

— And I'm only a park bench.