The smell of damp sawdust

filled the nostrils

of the man out of time

and darts,

dominoes and cribbage

the only games on his mind;

the last thing he expected

to find that night

as he strolled into this new adventure ground

was a nurse, out with a friend,

drinking tempered halves

from a dimpled glass,

catching her eye, he surprised

himself by smiling

and fell in love

with the ambience and strength

provided by walking in

on The Bird In Hand.