The poem by Paul Thomas Galbally ‘A Café on My Street’ struck a cord with me as I sat in my local café towards closing time while the chairs and tables were being wiped, floors swept, stock covered and perishables put in the refrigerator. The barista and wait staff moved slowly with end-of-the-day tiredness.

My experience is not as poignant as Galbally’s but I can well imagine that my local café owner will not want to stay for years in the one spot. He’s too young to have the desire to grow old and create a poetic backstory like this for people in the suburbs. Read on…

The Café on My Street
by Paul Thomas Galbally

This is my street
An old street,
In an old Irish town
The people come
And then they go
In the soft rain
Of a short Irish summer

When the mood is on me
I let my feet walk
And they always
Seem to bring me here
The café at the end of the street
And sure,
Where else would they go?

Many is a time
I had a hearty steak sandwich
Or fishcakes with potatoes
Or just a coffee and scuffin
To beat the cold outside
And it’s many the friend
I found in there
Aye, and lovers too.

It’s face is green and black
Milanese style
So the owners tell me
With a striped green and white awning
And simple tables and chairs
And all the love in the world

Music has been had there
And poetry, and just craic
Long Scrabble Saturdays
Taken very seriously
We even bought the dictionary
To stop the heated
Word exchanges

So I know most of the people
There is always a smile
Headed in my direction
When I am blue
It brings me to life
Somewhat
And needless to say
The food is always good

It is funny, how
Friends and family
Merge sometimes
As happens
In the Café at the end of the street
Where friends are family
And family are friends

They told me
They are closing in September
A loss like a family bereavement
I can only hope that
I find another place to go
Or maybe a new street to live on
Where I can
Walk out my door, and feel
Home

Paul Thomas Galbally, Ireland, August 2014
https://hellopoetry.com/paul-thomas-galbally/

“Think of them as a cross between scones and muffins
or as I like to call them scuffins.
These Irish muffins can be enjoyed in many ways.
Straight out of the oven for a warm breakfast treat,
as a quick snack with butter,
or part of your bread basket at mealtime”

Once Upon A Chef – Recipe from Jenn Segal