The Music of Paris - Ian Lilburne

Classical musos busk on the metro
One day a violin
The next a euphonium and clarinet
Doing a passable take of Take Five
Worth my euro
I hoped they’d play more
But moved on once the hat had passed
For the rest of the ride echoes of Brubeck
Punctuated the platforms
As they worked through the train
The only tune they knew

On the Pont Saint Louis
Flanked by accordions
A folk jazz quartet played original songs
And sold CDs
Double bass, snare and sax
An older guitarist
Mellow
Relaxed
Crooning a warm baritone

Later
At the same spot
Coming back from Shakespeare’s bookshop
I heard a solo guitarist So Long Marianne
A lyric I’d read a few hours on
In the book I’d bought
A Cohen moment in sync

In the cafés and gym 80’s rock rules
The Police, U2, Fine Young Cannibals
Songs from an era of simpler tunes
Melodies and irregular beats
Nostalgia the essential ingredient