Cardiff 6 p.m.

No. 12 a long room built under the eaves. Tri-

angular. Like living in a giant Toblerone packet.

One-bar electric fire and the meter only takes

threepenny bits. Sore throat and a cold a comin

sure as eggs is eggs is eggs.

Somewhere between here and London

the van has broken down. No band.

No props. It’s going to be a fun show

at the Barry Memorial Hall.

‘Drink Brains’ says the advert on a beermat.

They’d drink anything down here.

Must be the coaldust and all that

choirpractice. Outside its raining oldwomen

and walkingsticks. The pillow feels damp.

Tears of the previous paying guest.

The eskimos in the room next door

speak fluent welsh at the tops

of their voices. Not a drink to be had

T.B. or not T.B. that is the question.

Pneumonia at least. Sure as eggs

is eggs is eggs is eggs is eggs

is eggs is eggs is eggs is eggs

is eggs croeso is eggs is eggs

is eggs is eggs is eggs is eggs

is eggs is eggs is eggs is eggs