A slow walk up Centennial
and I still can’t find the place
it's menacing cold, and muted
and the street sweeper and winter breeze
move the Turkish blend and dust pack

A novice mixed duet plays
Brahms on broken strings
the erhu and overcoat
veiling a blue heeler and sphinx

Maggianos is settled in the center block’s
luminance and seasonal drape
it's festive warmth bringing home Bedford Falls;
the flavour and character and social circles

Annie’s playing and the keeper's singing
(his word pool and slander
raising everyone in arms!)
the crowd chants and mayhem breaks
as crawlers and contemporaries
smash their steins

Dark alleys and dripping holes
hold a grim reminder of the pierced underside
paddies flutter and forge their words
with a broad manifesto

Night gardens come alive
(slowly sapping the respite)
hunched figures and ladies in lace
shuffle inside the big orange door

pound the table
another round
here liquid courage
is to be found!

out flow the ales
pour forth the meads
hoist axe and buckler
there's mighty need!

For bearded froth
and battle hymns
tonight we drink
we drink from skins!

we drink from cups
we drain our steins
we'll drink until
our eyes go blind!

So hoist yer glass
join us tonight
put up yer fists
prepare to fight!

Put down that barstool
Ha! Ya missed
And sing the
Cadence of the ******!

Then pound the table
one last round
there's liquid courage
to be found!