Author Archives: tyldesleyboy

Lucas collected money In his special moneybox A moneybox specially for the poor And left the box for Santa To take up when he called And give to some poor person As he went from door to door   And Lucas got his presents When he woke on Christmas morn Noah too a dinosaur toContinue reading “Moneybox”

Wet and windy morning Wrapped against the weather Young folk there aplenty Faithfully endeavour To catch the word of Jesus Given out today Urbi et orbi Francis has his say   Lists the many places Of love in short supply Poverty and hunger People left to die Nations still in uproar Spoiling for a fightContinue reading “The Message”

My mother’s home a stable She didn’t like me to say The poverty of her childhood Down Bangor Erris way   Whereas I was born in splendour An English country house Adopted as a hospital While the world played cat and mouse   And Jesus in a stable Shared my mother’s tale A lowly placeContinue reading “A Stable”

What was I following? When I went away Ideas of catholic priesthood? No, no, no way The powerful pull of Jesus The Gospel words I read The truth I felt I saw there Every word he said   It’s still at work That powerful pull Leading me each day All that I am reading EverythingContinue reading “Jesus”

Christmas Eve Folk are travelling home Love is gathering in All we call our own Carols now from Kings Fill my own wee space Peace at Christmas brings Dearly bought sought grace   And those who have gone before Remember now this night Upon another shore And in a greater light The Lord born thisContinue reading “For You At Christmas”

David lives in Monaco today A long way from Henry Street and Tyldesley A long way from cobbled streets and coalmines Sent me a Christmas hamper he has today   We grew up good pals in junior school He an only child I one of four I beat a path regular over the common FoundContinue reading “David”

Donkey on the highway Slows the traffic down Police arrive to shepherd it To walk on safer ground   Christmas time reminder Line of Duty’s call Jesus Mary Joseph The wee donkey and all   Donkey by the manger Cosy in the straw Donkey in Jerusalem Palm branches and awe   Donkey in Glencullen QuietContinue reading “Wee Donkey”

They are going on a steam train Special treat today When I was young a child like them It was our normal way Steam trains ploughed through Tyldesley On the Wigan line Or off to Manchester Exchange On our holiday time   Steam trains roared through Wigan Fast to London town When I went withContinue reading “Power Of Steam”

They have shot the Tsar And all his family And what came after? Cruel tyranny Stalin’s purges communism’s curse Before was bad What followed even worse   In France we saw the guillotine The best the worst of times Blood lust in the country Fearful fearful crimes   In Spain a bloody civil war TheContinue reading “A Little History”

He had just popped out Or so it seemed His daughter said to me His house his room Now like a dream Of how things used to be   All her cards collected kept And notes lying here and there Observations written Left in books Hanging in the air   And precious words he spokeContinue reading “After Raymond”

When I was ill My neighbours nourished me One with soup and dinners Another with constancy My spirit nearly broken Depression on the rise My neighbours kept a watch on me My care to supervise   The curse of this pandemic Brings blessing in its train Brings out the good in people Brings sunshine inContinue reading “Neighbour”

The feast of love approaching I have no Christmas tree It is locked away in hiding It has no point for me I don’t do decorations There is only me to please My house the same as every day And I am at my ease   But my grandsons getting older I think next yearContinue reading “O Holy Night”

A card at Christmas Is like a visitation When people cannot come An email or a Whatsapp Will get the same job done It’s the thought of you at Christmas Always in my mind And in my heart I venture I always found you kind   And Christmas time The feast of love Requires weContinue reading “Christmas Greetings To You All”

In the corner of my room I have my silent chair The place I sit when breakfast time is done This is my Opus Dei Where the work of God is done Where silence is encouraged And daily life begun   The edifice I build today Starts with this foundation As in the Reds withContinue reading “All The Right Notes”

She was minding her own business When the angel came along With all this funny rigmarole About a brand new song   There’s going to be a baby And you will be the mum The baby will be great But it won’t all be fun   Life is what happens Said Lennon a famous timeContinue reading “Planning Other Things”