Talkin' Tony Knowles Blues

A Psychedelic Experience at The Embassy World Snooker Championship

We tried to hide from Sheffield but it found us
every time. We ran into The Crucible
to get out of the rain. What now? we thought
then the auditorium pulled us in.
We sat so near to the players that we
could swear we smelled the fags upon their breath
when they went to shake hands then make with the chalk.
The ref said "First frame. Jimmy White to break."
When Jimmy split the reds he blew my mind.
The only "Whirlwind" was inside my head.
At once my senses exploded in a
riot of colour like a Sibelius
tone poem being played out on the baize.
Balls clicked and clacked - a metronome outside
of time. "Unwrap your sweets sir, while you may,
for you know you'll be a long time in hell."
Our wet jeans started to steam in the heat.
It seemed as if my brain was handcuffed.*
"Foul and a miss..." What was this? Cues turning
into lances? Gentlemen once jousted
but nowadays they wear waistcoats and ties.
Alex Higgins had the right idea. He stuck to beer.

B.R. 14/03/2012

* This line should really be said in the voice of DeForest Kelley, the American actor. You know, he was Dr McCoy in Star Trek.  B.R.