May 2007 Archives
'Southport not Newport' or 'You Don’t Need That'
Posted by liam on May 3, 2007 5:18 PM
I FEEL that I must write a poem about the places that Southport has lost, as they will never be put back and it is a great loss to a beautiful Victorian town. I am sure there are other people who feel the same as I do.
Where’s the Palace Hotel?
Its tennis courts, its views, the little pub.
You don’t need that.
You can have the pub but more houses are needed.
Where is the Outdoor Bathing Pool?
The family fun, the bathing beauty contest, the sunny days?
Oh! You can’t have that,
We need a shopping square, a leisure centre, money coming in.
Where is the Floral Hall Gardens? Don’t touch it.
Music entertainer, deck chairs, fresh air.
No! You don’t need those.
We can give you a top hotel, bars and restaurants, shops.
Where is the bandstand?
Evening music, dancing, fairy lights, laughter.
Why, you have no need for that.
Look a fountain that surprises you and open space.
Where is the Palace cinema?
Genteel building, centre location, taxi at the door.
Don’t be silly, what’s the use of that?
Why a new international hotel, maybe a shop or two.
Where’s the bus station?
Central buses to everywhere, easy.
Too simple, looks untidy,
Supermarkets, clean lines, food, goods needed.
No! Please not the fairground,
Where can I go to laugh and sigh about all that’s gone?
Grow up, you are not a child,
Come here and see, it will be better.
What about me?
I like those old things easy and pleasant,
You! We don’t want you, we need the space.
Shall build you a bungalow out of town,
There’s nice town next door.
MRS PAT SCOTT,
VIRGINIA STREET,
SOUTHPORT
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Pleasureland
Posted by liam on May 3, 2007 5:17 PM
Once restored they adorned my bedroom wall.
One night as wild geese flew overhead I imagined the eagles flying out through the open window to join the geese on their long journey to Wherever-land.
However, during the sixties fairground heyday very few revellers, including myself, could possibly have predicted the untimely departure of Southport’s well-loved landmark.
JENNY FINCH,
Wellbeck Road,
Birkdale,
Southport
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Speed Eagles
Posted by liam on May 3, 2007 5:16 PM
One day they’ll break free,
Eagles of speed,
In search of a fairground,
And hobby horse dreams,
Fun fair reflections will blaze from their eyes,
As they seek out Wurlitzers, beyond carnival skies.
One day they’ll break free,
Eagles of speed,
In search of the sculptor,
Who carved out their wings,
Whirl across rooftops, skirting the trees,
Fly; Fly forever, eagles of speed.
One day they’ll break free
Eagles of speed
The smell of machine oil fresh in their dreams
Feather-wet paint flick glint in the sun,
Searching forever, a fairground long gone.
Anon
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My Carer
Posted by liam on May 3, 2007 5:15 PM
What does my carer mean to me?
Without her I could not be.
She is there at my every beck and call.
Always ready to catch me if I should fall.
When I cannot hold my cup,
She is there to hold it so I can sup.
She is always ready to cut my meat,
Making it easier for me to eat.
When I find it hard to put on my shoe,
She will help me to put on my socks too.
She is there twenty four hours a day,
Never complaining in any way.
I think you dear carer for helping me the way you do,
And I thank God for such a dear person as you.
E.J. Forden.
S Colchester Road,
Southport.
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‘SOUTHPORT’
Posted by liam on May 3, 2007 5:14 PM
Why not come to Southport and have some family fun,
Where you could meet the old and the young without having a pun.
The elderly are not just like gnomes,
As they don’t just sit in their retirement homes.
I wonder why Southport makes them so frisk,
Is it the clean air or the fun they have missed?
This is the town that should be renowned for the fun of the fair,
And not just an armchair.
The food connoisseur is second to none,
Even the fish and chips have beaten rivals from everyone.
Southport is getting stronger and stronger,
With whole family events makes a rememberance last a lot longer.
I know I will never forget,
Every time I visited the town a celebrity I have met.
K.Thompson,
Old Park Lane,
Churchtown,
Southport.
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Perceptions
Posted by liam on May 3, 2007 5:09 PM
Below is just one of the poems that was written by a distant cousin of mine who had very little money, a sick husband and two boys to bring up. She could not afford a holiday so my mother invited her to come and stay with us during the school holidays and this was her perception of Southport during the late '40s and '50s. I wonder what she would think today?
Mrs Ann Tweddell
What a beautiful place your town is with its gardens and parks trim and neat
The flowers a riot of colour bumble bees getting plenty to eat
The tree-lined parades look so stately they have such an old world charm
The beach is a fond mother's haven where children play without coming to harm
The air seems to blend with all ages especially old folks like me
There are plenty of benches to sit on, clean cafes to buy cups of tea
You can walk at your leisure down pathways watch old and young play on the greens
Or sprawl on the grass with your loved one indulging in romantic dreams
Deck chairs for hire are a blessing for people with rheumatic bones
And what a delight to the children are the stalls with lollies and cones
Cockles and shrimps for the asking oysters on little pot plates
A must if your tummy feels queezy when you’ve had a night out with your mates
Your transport is one of the finest conductors are always polite
a ride in the dark sky along Lord Street is really a beautiful sight
Fairy lights twinkle and glisten as they hang from the boughs of the trees
And light up the windows of fashion whose motto is “We aim to please”
Fairy lights twinkling like stars in the skies young lovers having a ball
Long evening dresses sweeping the floor on the way to the grand Floral Hall
Benches to sit on grass fresh and green
Flowers all tended with care
A memory I’ve cherished all through my life
I’m grateful that you asked me there
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This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Poets' Corner in the May 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.
August 2007 is the next archive.Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.