The deal was struck one lazy January day

in the Winnie-Gate over an illegal pint

for all present . The pile of over salted chips costing

each less than a good night’s sleep

and the sound of pool balls smacking in time

off the green velvet stained with half chewed

cigarette smoke and twenty-pence bets

to the tunes of the day being played

with carefree abandon

from the cannibalised juke box,

cannibalised through our own choices

and 80s regalia and the only acknowledgment

to our deeds was the fashion for the rolled up