Four bridges was a walk we used to do
On Sunday afternoons so long ago
And in that summer when money wasn’t saved
For Ireland and a holiday we’d forego
The bridges crossed a four-track railway line
From Manchester to Wigan and beyond
Some trains were bound for Southport and the brine
The rest were happy Wigan Wallgate bound
And farmers’ fields were dotted all around
And hedgerows where happy birds did sing
And coal dirt was the colour of the ground
Remains of Nelson Pit and everything
We loved to watch the trains go rolling by
The steam from busy engines flying high
And people in the carriages looking out
And wondering what we were all about
I’ve left those childhood days now far behind
But a railway line sits close beside my door
And grandchildren are very keen to climb
A new built bridge a vision to explore
They wave at trains from Glasgow and from Perth
From Edinburgh and from old Dundee
And with each wave Its Tyldesley now this earth
And Wiganers are waving now at me
Brian Fahy
15 April 2021
Erris Poetry 