A word in translation

On that self same holiday in central Europe we had a few days in Budapest. We enjoyed it, staying in a strange guest house that felt like something out of Graham Greene’s imagination. It was a young city, vibrant, hopeful but everywhere something took you back 30 years, 50 years, 100 years to more sinister times, more controlling times. It was like you could sweep the streets but not wash away all the ingrained suspicion. My mind played tricks on me and I wrote this little piece. No idea where it came from…

Silly Love Song (Budapest)

‘I need to mate,’ said the beauty from Buda,

As she stared sadly across the Danube.

But I don’t know what to do for the best.

The choice, after all, couldn’t be cruder:

My egg and his mayo in some cheap test-tube

Or a shag with that cheapskate from Pest.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.

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