Tyldesley
Cobbled streets and smoky skies
Miners’ phlegm and grandma’s pies
Coal dust paths and privet hedges
Games of football Christmas sledges
Sandstone church all painted black
From dust in’th air and nutty slack
Flat caps pipes and cigs galore
Queuing for’t pictures out the door
Walk down’t road for bus and tram
Don’t do that I’ll tell me mam
Up t’shop for a loaf of bread
Get thi’ whoam and go to bed
Polished steps and women in curlers
Cigs on’t lip no fear’t burglars
Hardy folk and matter of fact
Tell it straight no need for tact
Mill and mine and factory shed
A life of graft until tha’s dead
Glencullen
Smell of turf fire on the wind
Endless sky and river bend
Trout and salmon lurking there
Open season and God’s fresh air
Floury spuds and cabbage and bacon
Boxty then and bread fresh baking
Salty butter on the table
Auntie Annie fit and able
Bruce and Black the collies faithful
Slopes of Tuiscean Carraful
Fields and boreens bog and drain
Collect the turf and home again
Cousins for company the livelong day
A paradise for all my play
Fresh and clean as when in Eden
Blue and green and very heaven
Brian Fahy
18 February 2023
Erris Poetry 