Have you ever asked yourself, what is a Friend?
Surely it's a special relationship that'll not break but bend.
For you've known each other for years as mates,
During which you've got into some scrapes and states,
And over time recognise each other's strong points,
Confidences and deep thoughts shared over joints,
Are genuinely happy for their luck and enterprises,
Whilst lovingly empathising with their darker surprises.

In Love you are asset, not gooseberry nor add on,
Always there, when required, with a shoulder to cry on.
And encourage them, when oft toughest it seems,
To hang it all up and to follow their dreams.
But when it's your turn and your blind to the trouble,
They bring a pin of kindness to burst that sad bubble.
So lets drink Tequila, with both salt and lime,
And toast to this friendship to last through all time.

Ode to my Lover sweet Mary Jane,
Who leads me gently to the Land of Cane,
A muse for music, beauty and Art,
For they're seldom the same when we're apart.

A tempestuous mistress, is sweat Mary Jane,
And no two visits are ever the same,
She may make me paranoid, or reel with laughter,
But when She run's, out I'll always run after!

Her sister, dear Rizla's a bit of a grin,
And who can deny Her beauteous skin,
With such a sorority paradise is found,
And there's seldom a dull moment, when they're rolling around!

I've been in 'Ull coming on ten years,
And it's been a time of both laughter and tears,
Came here first off as a student,
Cost of living makin' it prudent,
Then come graduation, just somehow stayed,
My original plan's having been waylaid.

Started studying psychology at University,
And was surprised by it's strange shift in subversity,
For a town once known for it's militant stance,
Had a Union Council, that wouldn't take a chance
On supporting anything outside the Law,
No matter what the students themselves voted for!

I started workin' in a local's bar,
Living on Cranbrook it weren't too far,
And being not only student but with a Cornish drawl,
Was sure I'd be made to look more the fool,
Instead most seemed friendly and confessed,
Their bestest holiday was in the South West.

So feelin more at home and less a clown,
Set out to explore the vastness of Town,
With Ferens gallery and museums for free,
And the Whitefriersgate and Prince's Quay,
But the pub local's gave me a hint,
So decided to skip both Cheese and Mint.

Pearson Park is a redeeming feature,
'Specially for this avid sun creature,
And the heating's free at the Conservatory,
But explaining that's a longer story!
With footie, volleyball, Chess and free coffee,
Lovely Tree's, cute squirrels, and a right close offie!

And though oft brassic, have had good guiders,
Friends that introduced me to Lamp, Welly and Spiders,
With live music provided at Adelphi by Paul,
Hull for entertainment certainly has it all,
But can say both since and during my student days,
Still have never stepped foot, once in L.A.'s.

It seems to me in schools the lessons kid's learn,
Is that dreams, hopes, and fantasy's, they all crash and burn!
But I'm her to say "Look around and take Hope,
For Life and Hull offer you much more than just Dope,
I say this now, without fear of impunity,
Cos this here's a City that has a sense of community"!

The wonderful Bridge, now on our backs,
As apparently were still paying on our council tax.
But the ferry's the 'Gateway to Europe' for trucks,
And therefore meant to bring in the big bucks,
Instead what we get is cheap baccy and booze,
And the odd trip to Amsterdam for us to abuse!

Was here at Eclipse, dressed as a Monk,
Did lots of Mushrooms, and smoked bestest skunk,
Then got interviewed by both Calender and theMail,
Surprised I could concoct such a good tale,
With Hutt Street Parties and the odd street Reclaimed,
"It's never dull in Hull" has been aptly reframed.

So having 'Escaped' nonetheless returned,
To the place good times and mates were earned,
With this absence can now safely decree,
That Hull's a wonderful place to be,
For it offers One the chance to experiment,
With different aspects of Me, I ain't tried yet!

In closing, let's not see this City as a Has been,
Just one that's alive and up and comeen,
With the Super Stadium, The Deep and now New station,
Hull's breaking out of its long-term stagnation,
I know that the once flourishing fishing port has died,
So now it's time to resurrect this King's Town pride!