Larkin 25 - Paris Versus Hull By Catherine Scott

I visited Paris recently There was lots to do and lots to see Like the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower Where I queued up for over an hour Just for the opportunity to scare myself witless And pay over the odds - it was just ridiculous Then there's the museums including The Louvre Fighting my way through was quite a manoeuvre After I'd given them my money I got lost for hours which wasn't funny I didn't even like the subject matter And there was no one there with whom I could natter

I visited the Notre Dame Well it was in my pre-arranged plan And likewise with the Sacre Coeur Visitors genuflecting at the great Monsieur That area though didn't have much to offer I was just adding to their enormous coffer Now I'm glad to say that I'm back in Hull And my culture overload is completely full For me Paris was not fantastic Because my purse isn't made from elastic For sure Paris has a distinctive flavour 'Rip off the Tourists' is the one to savour In Paris I saw one lady I'd call 'chic' You know the type - she just had 'it' In Hull I see lots like that They shine through like 22 carat I think Hull blokes though need to work a bit harder Cos those Parisian fellas - well - they're you know ... la la la - di - dah Compared to Parisian beggars our beggars have more class Some of ours have a dog and some smoke grass The Parisian beggars have practised long faces And sit on the pavement in their allocated places Our beggars don't use a plastic cup for offerings No, they use a base ball cap and hope for sovereigns. Hull art galleries and museums are free to all Our parks and gardens are unsurpassable Our shops and malls are just the right size Over Paris I'd say we'd win first prize So who needs Paris and their fancy ideas? I'll stick with Hull - Good health - and - cheers

Copyright © Catherine Scott 2010

Poetry Larkin 25 - As I Come Down By Pamela Scobie

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