New View
The ivy-clad old bridge hotel
See the old bridge beyond the well
Websites reveal past, boss won't tell
Its wine dinners can still outsell
Times change, you put new owners in
Retire, you pass old owners out
The old owner consults, watches
Joyful newcomers dance about
No doubt there's bound to be a rout
Hurray, a new manager's in
Sorry, an old manager's out
In, out, and shake titles about
A manager deserted us
I heard he went with half the staff
Ambition's no sin, well done him
Promotion for us other half
Breakfast
Old customers keen on croissant
Black pudding? Puzzled, smile in doubt
'Where's the old chef? Are you new, too?
What's this month's menu all about?'
The manager's our brand new friend
We chatted through lovely dinners
Some discount deal is where this ends
Happy customers are winners
We over-ate whipped mystery cream
And sniffed and spit out tannic wine
We video whispered drama
Record. Lip read another time
The old bridge hotel
Is still doing well
The old bridge and the old hotel
Have stories I guess but I can't tell.
To Bed
We admire the painted the woodwork
Looks like they've carpeted the stairs
So long as they are serving, no customer cares
If managers are playing musical chairs
-ends-
I copied the first verse to the last verse. Then decided to change it, as if the narrator now knew more but would not reveal it. The last line read Have stories I will but won't tell. Moving from they to I as if I was now part of the conspiracy of silence or secrets. (Or just afraid of slander or libel action.)
My final version was stories I guess but can't tell. The word guess retains the air of mystery, with customers still not knowing what is going on. As is so often the case in hotels, conferences, clubs, committees with conflicts, big organizations.
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