Poems by Jack Mitchell - The Crane Bar

(by Jack Mitchell)

Here's health to the oul' Crane Bar
and the music it's famous for,
and there's health in a good Crane jar -
though there's more in three or four.

We'll drink to musicians among us;
We'll think of magicians past,
and the singers of songs who sung us
the great ones made to last.

Roofed from the keen moon's crescent,
the feet and pulses pound
as we weave of past and present
our seamless garment of sound.

Long life to that oul' Greek cavern
where Homer went blind on the job
composing his mighty ballad
of Hector and all that mob.

And fair play to the Mermaid Tavern
where Will and Ben and Kit
would sit a-bartering sonnets
and buttering up their wit.

Now I wouldn't say no to the odd jar
of the true, the Elysian nectar,
but I'd sooner sit in this oul' Crane Bar
than sup with Shakespeare or Hector.

Here will I park my star
and pity the gods.