I have been into town – into the town to which I have newly moved. The pavements are icy, and I came close to slipping a few times. I posted a birthday card, and then I went into a cafe where I ordered a pot of tea and a chocolate brownie, and sat and wrote a page of my novel, The Lovers, which perhaps I shall never finish, it's going so slow and so gruelingly. Then, as shops and cafes were closing all down the fore street, I made my way back over the treacherous pavements. Doing so, I thought of a recent visit to the town of Paignton, and decided to write some lyrics based on my impressions, in the hope that they might one day become a Kodagain song. Here is what I composed:
From Paignton Pier
Near five o’clock, it’s growing dark.
Clouds are draped across the sky
In endless grey, like rainless rain
At Paignton pier.
How I wish that I had brought somebody here
When I was young
And had a spark of life to share.
Now I stare out at the stippled, rocking waves.
I’ve never taken anybody anywhere.
All that is left for some, is just to see.
As someone who spent their first 15 holidays in Paignton and still has relatives down there I love this Quentin and will forward it on to my cousin who met her husband near Paignton pier when she was young with that spark of life
Thank you. It was my first visit in adult years to the English Riviera, but I liked it. The clouds were indescribable. I spent some time in a parked car watching a shop called ‘Devon Confectionary’ close, all the revolving stands and so on taken in one by one.
Peter A Leonard writes:Hi QuentinJust being nosey, but do you always write everything longhand?Enjoyed the post; I like Paignton but hate the zoo; I hate all zoos; even the best of the modern ones are little better than open prisons for animals.Regards.Peter
Hello.I almost always write in longhand. That is, I always write in longhand for stories. Only thus can I be sure that the Dao will flow freely from my wrist, through the pen, to the page. The Dao doesn’t work so well with keyboards.I didn’t visit the zoo on this occasion. I think I may have when I was a child. The words “Paignton Zoo” seem to stir memories.