WERE GOING TO A PARTY, MAYBE, SOMEDAY BUT NOT IN THIS TOWN. By Bradford Middleton

An old friend gets in touch for the
First time in a while, says hi and
Asks me if i fancy going to a party
Sometime in a couple of weeks
From now.  Sure i say without
Even asking who and where, just
Realising how rare this chance is
Now, so i ask and get told.  It’s
Some place i’ve heard of but have
No idea how to get there or even
If i have work the next day either.

So as usual i guess i won’t be going
To party and shall have to apologise
And return to being a social pariah
Down here in cools-ville by the sea.

Bradford Middleton was born in south-east London during the summer of 1971 and won his first poetry prize at the age of nine.  He then gave up writing poems for nearly twenty-five years and it wasn't until he landed in Brighton, knowing no one and having no money, that he began again.  Ten years later and he's been lucky enough to have had a few chapbooks published including a new one from Analog Submission Press entitled 'Flying through this Life like a Bottle Battling Gravity', his debut from Crisis Chronicles Press (Ohio, USA) and his second effort for Holy & Intoxicated Press (Hastings, UK).  He has read around the UK at various bars, venues and festivals and is always keen to get out and read to new crowds.  His poetry has also been or will be published shortly in the Chiron Review, Zygote in my Coffee, Section 8, Razur Cuts, Paper & Ink, Grandma Moses 'Poet to Notice', Empty Mirror, Midnight Lane Gallery, Bareback Lit and is a Contributing Poet over at the wonderful Mad Swirl.  If you like what you've read go send a friend request on facebook to bradfordmiddleton1.