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Tom Jones still singing and he’s 80That good-looking Welsh boyGoing strongWhy not retired with his feet up?Got to keep on goingSing a song It’s his lifeWhat he’s good atAlways singingMore into lyricsNot as loudAnd the adrenalineRush with an audienceDrives himAn addict for a crowd I remember listening to himIn MachynllethThere I was a painting jobContinue reading “Why Delilah”

Next door lived a ladCalled Geoffrey MergerMy first pal when we were ‘little men’We used to watch the coal menAs they delivered coalWe counted all the sacks up to ten Miners’ familiesGot those ten bags freeWe watched the men as bags fell to the floorWe tidied up for mumWhen they’d deliveredCleaning up the yard atContinue reading “Geoffrey”

‘When you go in thereIt’s as if I don’t exist,’The words that Margaret said to me one day‘There’ was in my studyMy office if you likeWhat Margaret said had given it a twist It felt like accusationI hurried to defend myself and said‘It’s just like going to work.You go out the door,I start my dayContinue reading “Winning The Point”

Summer daysWe took a walk down AstleyAs far as Astley ParkThat our sceneMe and DavidMaybe sometimes puttingBut better by farOn the bowling green The game of bowlsFitful in my storyBut playing itWas like being in a dreamThe gentle rollOf wood across the carpetThe Jack beyondKeep it on the seam No riotous behaviourThis arenaNo raucous shoutsToContinue reading “Bowling Green Astley”

Tyldesley StationStanding on the platformCollecting namers shortly after schoolStillness of the stationQuiet, peacefulA place for meditationSo cool Then the noise of steam trainApproachingChuntering up the brew from Wigan wayThe belch of steamThe noise of carriage doorsNow openingAnd slamming doorsMind now, clear the way People getting onAnd folk alightingPorters and master move alongEngine driver smilingAnd enjoyingHisContinue reading “Steam And Dream”

Tyldesley StationEarly morning trainBrian coming home from IrelandGlad to see his home placeDear old TyldesleyGlad to be in ‘Bongs’Once again Porter on the platformBy a flowerbedBrian reportsAs he was duly toldHis ticket is invalidWhat’s to happen?Does he have to pay?To offer gold Staying overlongWith his cousinsHis ticket unbeknownstRuns out of timeThe collectorOn the train downContinue reading “Odyssey”

(Dedication, devotion – Dire Straits) My grandson LucasLoves to make his markPen on paperScribbles on a pageThe artist in us livesFor paint on canvasCreating beautyFit for any age Repair ShopShows meCrafters at their workbenchBending over elements so fineTiny movementsTotal concentrationRestoring lovelinessWhen aged by time SculptorChips awayWith mallet, chiselCreating shapesHis eye already seesMasons ever workingOn cathedralsStoneContinue reading “Walk Of Life”

I gave a missionIn Bradford, ManchesterInner city east side of the townThe old priest thereA lovely Irish shepherdAte bacon and cabbageLike a treat went down The place had sufferedMuch from renovationStreets knocked downNew streets in the skyOne old ladyMarooned in a high riseLooked out a lonely loftWay up high Unable to walk farThe lift wasContinue reading “Gradely Folk”

She was sitting in her chairIn CarrabawnIn my father’s chairAs used to beListening to meGoing on and onAbout my fatherHow he used to be A good man and a kind manAnd a gentHow I described himAs I rhapsodisedShe smiled as she listenedTo this torrentOf praise for a man I idolised Ironic smile I sawPass o’erContinue reading “Like Father Like Son”

Johnny Come Lately The incomerIs the hated oneThe native here by rightThat’s how we feelThat’s how we say it isThe native now aggressorFeeling himself aggressedTakes up the cudgelsThis land is his The native poor of GlasgowFound themselves awashAs famine IrishLanded in their townBad enough the povertyBad enough the timeA foreign JohnnyTrying to settle down NoContinue reading “Johnny Come Lately”

Fame And Family My cousin, JohnI used to boast about himMayo GAA and Garda tooWe played togetherFootball in the glenWhen we were childrenSoccer what I knew He went on to mighty thingsAfter KiltaneMayo GAA All Stars tooAnd rising in the ranksGarda SiochanaMade ChiefBefore his working life was through I discoveredThat his father, Uncle HughA workingContinue reading “Fame And Family”

Slow the daySlow these hours of livingI want to live foreverDon’t you see?I wasn’t ever thusI had misgivingI’d lost the will to liveA large degree In recent daysI felt myselfA ‘saddo’I told my storyTo myself in greyOr black sometimesWhen life felt just a no-goWhat’s the point?What reason now to stay? But I’ve come throughI can’tContinue reading “Live Your Life”

Tied to StakesThey stand and face the seaWigtown MartyrsKnown to you and meMargaret McLachlan63 years oldMargaret Wilson18 so I’m told Condemned to dieBecause they would not swearAllegiance to the kingIn holy rulesBrave they were and boldTo even dareStand up againstThe idiocy of fools What madness we employTo rule the worldDividing peopleInto right and wrongWe doContinue reading “Margaret And Margaret”

I’m toldMy dad was difficult for a whileHealth breakdownUnemployed and lostMoody he becameNot his styleWar and workNow to count the cost FootballersWhen they stopWhat will I do?Unless they’ve planned aheadThey go to seedSaturday glory and the ballyhooAll gone nowWhat’s the next good deed? I lost touchWith who I was insideStopped my writingMediation tooWent downhillReal tobogganContinue reading “Crisis”

Summer of ‘63The world was buzzingTales of scandalAnd adulterySecret spiesMansion houseAnd partiesSwimming in the nudeEverything Upper classesPants around their anklesSought a scapegoatStephen Ward would doAccused of improprietyIt ranklesMandy RiceChristine Keeler too Strong defendingStrong denial tacticEven House of Commons told a lieKeep the lid onTurn the fire on othersWhatever happensJust deny, deny Solemnity of courtBewigged counselInterrogationContinue reading “Oh Mandy”