On a cold bright April evening
I had an appointment to keep.
I showed the doorman my printed ticket
and dashed down the aisle to my seat.
I rubbed my hands together in delight
as the Lowry theatre went dark,
the sell-out crowd all gathered
to see Dr John Cooper Clarke.
With his jokes, poems and one-liners
the good doctor regaled the crowd
and recited all his greatest hits
while we cheered, whooped and howled.
The crowd spilled out onto the streets
our ears still ringing with rhyme
still laughing and repeating his words
all agreed, we\'d had such a good time.
His rapid-fire words stayed with me
as I rode the late-night tram back home
feeling motivated and so inspired
to try and write verse of my own.
I would try and write a few poems
of my own, and try to make a mark,
just like my Salford-born hero,
here\'s to you, Dr John Cooper Clarke.