
The summer of Seventy-six Reaching Minnie Ripperton’s high notes Studying for the Leaving A heatwave lemonade, tall grass, Cycling to the lake hair flying in the breeze Diving in Initial freeze Sun on skin Singing American Pie Chevy to the Levy What was a levy and why was it dry? Buzzwords If Life is a Bowl of Cherries … Singing harmony to Bohemian Rhapsody Scaramouche, Play the Fandango We were all opera singers In our theatres of gravity Janice Ian’s At Seventeen Flicking pages of Edna O’Brien Or was it Flowers in the Attic? Feeling erratic Flying free with Johnathon Livingston Seagull The Dandelion Market Henna, bangles, dangly earrings Indian dresses, scents of Incense Patchouli, Lemon, Frankincense Conforming, Civil Service Merrion Square Squeeze in the box Feeling Nervous Nutty rolls from Kylemore Miles of walking through Dublin streets Buses packed, one, two, three Feeling the rhythm of tired feet Living in that Georgian house Leaky ceilings in heavy rain Gas heaters, noxious fumes Moore Street on a Saturday Five for a Pound! Bargains all round Woman selling newspapers in a pram Outside the Gresham All in a day’s walk Then, the backpack days Sleeping on stony beaches in Hydra or Crete Sore feet, heavy pack, hot sun Feigning fainting, laughing all the way Back to the wetlands—not so bad after all Off again Picking grapes by the Mosel Blasting sun Wine at night Blazing fires Working in Harley Street White uniforms Relief at Shepherd’s Bush Walking along Baker Street Jerry Rafferty in my ear Dance Away with Brian Ferry Portobello Road Jamaican flair Wild hair Top Shop, Mary Quant Remembering the sunshine the melting tar the music of that era one of the best so far