"Jessops"

Farewell then my dear old friend

Except you weren’t really were you?

We were never really close

You more served a purpose

Rather than anything more intimate.

A ‘marriage of convenience’

So to speak.

Not a loving relationship.

One click and you were gone.

A bit like painting a picture

Or writing a poem

You were decidedly average,

No old master.

Surly in your hurly burly

You had your uses

From chip to disc then home.

Functional simplicity at a price

And a reasonable one at that.

Which suited me. When you

Chose to perform.

I’m used to that

Story of my life

And every picture tells a story.

Like dirty old men on a toilet

You were better than a wank

But nothing special.

So good riddance to you

Even though I will miss you.

Dulwich Poet- 13^th February 2013

(The large High Street  camera chain Jessops closed down in January)

(I read this at 'Outsider Performers', part of the Shuffle Festival , which was on the sit of St. Clements Hospital, Bow, E3.)