Bron Dilys Teashop <br />Of Threadneedle Alleyway, <br />Swaddled in a pinafore <br />And cosseted in lace, <br />Soon charmed the borough boys <br />When she sang long for the scallywags <br />Or served up sweet tyshan lap <br />With her famous welsh cakes. <br /> <br />Her soft-breasted menu <br />Of cariad and comfort, <br />Her short tacky temper <br />Emblazed her blue eyes, <br />Dai Jones ate those long legs <br />Alive in the bara brith <br />And deep-delved her laverbread <br />With his brandysnap lies. <br /> <br />Then was Tilly Tongue-fit <br />Sweet cuddled in the marigold <br />With muddling Tom Tiddle-O <br />And his calico cat, <br />Dan Rees called for 'cave-o' <br />As Tom stoked the middle-up <br />To watch for the Billy Boyo <br />And Moll Thunderclap. <br /> <br />Long years now I've wondered <br />At the conjure of your alleyway; <br />Does Bron Dilys Jiggle-O <br />Still sup bara caws, <br />Does Willy the Wag now <br />Still wriggle in the coal-hole <br />With a mouth full of marigolds <br />And a handful of yours? <br /> <br />I spend my mind dreaming <br />Of cariad and comfort, <br />Of tight fitting pinafores <br />In parlour and bower, <br />Her bonnet up-ended <br />In the spell of welsh rare-bits <br />Sweet tasted, willy nilly-o <br />Back when, in Bryn Mawr. <br /> <br />19 February 1981<br /><br />David Lewis Paget<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-welsh-hymn/
