Author Archives: tyldesleyboy

I used to have my hair like Elvis PresleyGood resemblance too I have to sayCombed my quiff no partingWore my sideburns longBut that was so long since another day Now my hair is parted in the middleMy dome shows throughAnd gets the sun all daySideburns long since shortenedWouldn’t look quite rightDon’t want to look MickContinue reading “Hair Was Black”

Body language gives the game awayDisciples on the road – JerusalemNot too keen on this roadBetter back at homeBetter home than even Bethlehem The Lord he tries to tell themSome trouble to expectBut nothing’s going in – don’t want to knowThey talk about special privilegesPrecedence special rolesEnough to cause a rumpus come to blows OkayContinue reading “Listen Up”

I met a girl in an orphanageShe was coming up sixteenSoon she’d leave a life outside to startI met her some years laterChildren round her knee‘Had no family these children now my heart’ When I had a breakdownDesperate brought down lowI asked of Clare a question of the heartWill I ever again be happy?You’ll beContinue reading “Foundations”

When ordination day came roundOur isolated college foundAn invasion force of northern coachesLancashire Yorkshire now approachesFive forgotten years a desertNow this day on full alertI chain smoked couldn’t grasp itHere we go your life’s in aspic Mum had asked me what I wantedA present like commemoratedSaid a bible that ‘ll do meNothing else could thenContinue reading “Thinking Is The Cause Of Man’s Greatness. (Pascal)”

Dad’s health failed at forty-fourNow no money coming in the doorTime for mum to go looking for a jobFull time mum of four no choiceHad to go and find her voiceGot to earn the money find a bob Domestic service all she knewSo that was where she started tooBut that would hardly even pay theContinue reading “Undiscovered Talent”

At the edge of the worldSang Donnie MunroAnd Runrig blasted outMaggie and I found edge of the worldWhenever we went outThe sea and all it says to usA welcome and farewellInviting us to linger thereAdmire that ocean swell Finisterre the very nameSpells out mysterySea and sand and time and tideSpell out infinityLovers seek the edgeContinue reading “Finisterre”

Aw sir, it’s not fairBrian Fay comes first in everything!We were walking up from t’ parkAfter school sports day’s larkAnd me with medals all bestrewn with bling The lad’s complaint were trueBut what can I do?I try my best in whatever must be doneAnd yes I do come ‘fust’I try I feel I mustWe’re allContinue reading “At School”

Brian’s gone now, my father saidWhen they had just got into bedHome from leaving me in seminaryHe’d never said a word beforeLeft all that at mother’s doorHer department I just bring home the money I wanted him to keep me homeGo running at Leigh running dromeBut he said nothing not a yes or noHe wouldn’tContinue reading “Midnight’s Conversation”

Dank dreich drizzle fallingContinues our wet May maulingGrey sky overheadUnderfoot wet bedOf weeds and thistlesNeeding overhauling Summer was in AprilThat bright TuesdayEver since itsWe are not amused dayCold wet and windyIs our stationDon’t even mention the wordVacation Climate changeLooks all the same to meYou wouldn’t mindIf this was JanuaryBut May! I ask youWhat in tarnation’sContinue reading “Weather”

Beer and fags the drugs they hadTo compensate a life of drudgerySmoky rooms and rounds of ale the styleMills and mines were their employLong hours given and there no joyAll your life so how the hell to smile But smile they did through all that grimeAnd kept their doorsteps cleanAnd kept best room for visitorsContinue reading “Northern Soul”

Papal Impressions Pacelli appears gaunt solemn seriousA man in isolation lonely popeDeep set eyes intelligenceAll things come through mePapal power honour, bend the knee Roncalli total oppositeA granddadOpen-hearted, world-embracing manExperienced war twice overPeasant countrymanOpened windows letting fresh air in Montini churchman brightIntelligentHad to face a world in total fluxSwinging sixtiesSwept away conventionsRevolutions pillsAll too muchContinue reading “Papal Impressions”

Quiet corners of the worldInvite our spirit inCome and rest your weary heartCome away from din Dorinish out in Clew BayAn island you could buyA refuge and retirement homeIt caught John Lennon’s eye Escape from noisy drug-fuelled worldIsland in the streamA home he’d build in later yearsThat, that was his dream McCartney too the sixtiesContinue reading “Peaceful Easy Feeling”

When I went to counsellingSome three years agoThe session was so precious to meA cosy room a counsellorAttentive and warmThat place that timeJust where I had to be I wanted the hourTo go on and onI felt so warm engagedWhere I should beBut an hour is the limitAnd that is the remitAnything moreWould wasteEffectivity IContinue reading “Counsel”

Something about James TaylorCan’t rightly sayHe’s good I thoughtBut I don’t want to knowLiked his song – CarolinaHis voice a bit high pitchSomething about himBut I’ll just let it go Now a lifetime laterI take a lookLike what I readHe is a really good bookStruggled with so muchDrugs and allTrying to just be normalDad andContinue reading “Crying ain’t I”

So much to rememberGoing out the door– Front door keys walletMobile and messagesMasks and shopping bags –If I wore my hearings aidsI’d have to add them tooNow is there any more? I laugh sometimesMy memory seemsTo be slowing downOne day I’ll go out that doorWithout my trousers on! It happened to my granddadOne dark ChristmasContinue reading “Got Everything?”