A Welsh Hymn

Bron Dilys Teashop

Of Threadneedle Alleyway,

Swaddled in a pinafore

And cosseted in lace,

Soon charmed the borough boys

When she sang long for the scallywags

Or served up sweet tyshan lap

With her famous welsh cakes.

 

Her soft-breasted menu

Of cariad and comfort,

Her short tacky temper

Emblazed her blue eyes,

Dai Jones ate those long legs

Alive in the bara brith

And deep-delved her laverbread

With his brandysnap lies.

 

Then was Tilly Tongue-fit

Sweet cuddled in the marigold

With muddling Tom Tiddle-O

And his calico cat,

Dan Rees called for 'cave-o'

As Tom stoked the middle-up

To watch for the Billy Boyo

And Moll Thunderclap.

 

Long years now I've wondered

At the conjure of your alleyway;

Does Bron Dilys Jiggle-O

Still sup bara caws,

Does Willy the Wag now

Still wriggle in the coal-hole

With a mouth full of marigolds

And a handful of yours?

 

I spend my mind dreaming

Of cariad and comfort,

Of tight fitting pinafores

In parlour and bower,

Her bonnet up-ended

In the spell of welsh rare-bits

Sweet tasted, willy nilly-o

Back when, in Bryn Mawr.

 

David Lewis Paget

 

Reviews

[Jaffa Forbes]

very cheeky but well written poem
jaff