Stretford Mall’s demolition has officially begun & our good friend Mike (head of security), shared with us a scene. We decided to write a poem.
PAWN IS IN THE HEART - An ode to All Nite Pawn
by
@the_brokers_____
The shutters are knackered,
the signage; all cracked,
the Mall is set to be flattened,
and that, good friends, is that.
In the ‘brokers: no gold remains,
no watches and no chains,
just vibrations in the brickwork
and beer in the drains.
Here once stood a pawnbrokers,
that became a portal by the nite,
half a centre for the community,
half an admin oversight.
Our dancefloor here in Stretford,
misbehaving in this shop,
it was a dream held together
with gaffer tape on top.
There were trolleys full of lager
speakers up on wheels,
there were strange little moments,
and many bizarre deals.
3 generations of one family,
DJs wearing clogs,
old mall romantics
lots of late-nite prog.
In the green room; the strangest scene
Mr Blobby and Rugrat themed,
a dentist chair there waited
but somehow nobody screamed.
By day a crowd looked in
for a ring or for a loan,
by night they all found rhythm,
the sweat, the smoke; a home.
Security Mike on watch each night
kept Stretford’s anomaly intact,
whilst The Brokers; they dealt nonsense,
in place of verifiable facts.
No refunds. No credit.
No discernible game plan.
Just a room full of good people,
doing what only good people can.
Because a dancefloor can happen
wherever you may start,
be it a club, or a car park,
or the Stretford Arndale’s heart.
So goodbye to the counter,
the carpet, & white collar ‘crime’
the chintz & sleazy furniture,
it’s all lost now to time.
Walk by, recall the Mall each day,
her late nite cinematic gloom,
along with neon-lit kids rides,
remember a hearty 808 boom.
The walls might turn to rubble,
and the shutters might well fall,
but what can’t ever be demolished
are the memories inside us all.
Gone but not gone.
Done but not done.
All Nite Pawn, the dancers, the staff,
you’re all beautiful wrong’uns.
Pawn is in the heart our friends,
It’s all a state of mind
Trust the Nite, it’ll all be ‘rite
New doors open all the time.
With SO MUCH love
@the_brokers_____ &
@nite_school_mcr 🌙♥️
xx
