This is my latest poem – I wrote it for my father, who died on the 11th June.
He’s gone fishin’
An Adventurous Soul…
Have I been
The ties of bondage
Did I break
To be free
Sailed across the ocean
To a land of rich exuberant
Wilderness
That set my heart alight
Left behind
A training ground
Of heartbreak
Hardship
And comradeship
Forged in
The furnace of
A Lancashire landscape
Where Accrington red brick
Mills
Covered the valleys
Between long lost forests
Enslaving a people
Once so proud
And brave
Even bears trod with respect
A people
With such a will to live
That deafness working the loom
Rations not fit for a warrior folk
And loss of power
Took not their souls
But lifted them;
Survivors in humour
Cheerfulness
A perfected art form
Cushioning the agony
Protecting their chicks
Look out for our own
Make summat outta nowt
Make merry
Like there is no tomorrow
An adventurous soul
Have I been
From the waters of Eire
To the rivers of Ayr
I have fished
And made merry
Forged friendships in malted hops
And left memories in the hearts of hosts
Music in my soul
From the dancehalls to the theatres
The language of my soul
Both irreverent and deep reverence
Served my time
Aboard a naval vessel
Learnt the ways
Of islands still wild
Loved and lost
Explored my freedom
Lived life
Like tomorrow never comes
Came home
Settled down
Gave up my hard earned freedom…
Slowly
Known in my heart
That our own destiny we forge
That whatever we reach out for
Is within our grasp
Yet
Settled down
Gave up my hard won freedom
To take up the mantle
Of a householder
Bowling with aim
Sure as an archer
Met me a wife
Reared me a daughter
And then one more
Accepted the mantle
Of response ability
Found the tender one
Within
And to distressed child in the night
Offered succour
Rose early
And coaxed breakfast
Into the mouths
Of reluctant young
Lifts to school
Sucking strong peppermints
A kiss goodbye
And suddenly grown
Daughters
Step away
And I know the poignancy
Of young leaving the nest
My heart aches
And forgotten grief
Attempts to rise
Up
To the surface
Pain
Can I find strength
In vulnerability?
Lancashire born
Countryman heart
Wild adventurous soul
Vulnerable, me?
Ah, no
Ask not that
Leave me my dignity
Warrior, hero, father.
A challenge, a step too far,
For this time around.
A move down south,
Take it easy
But habits they die hard
In a Lancashire lad
Life and Soul
Our George
Made us laugh
One o’ t’ lads
Heart o’ gold?
Aye
But don’t wear it on your sleeve lad
Be a man
‘er indoors
And the bairns
Need you to be strong.
Ah yes, dad
But
Need you to be true
To you
Too
Loving heart
Don’t hide that
It’s solid gold
More precious than a diamond
Adventurous soul,
It’s your heart that we love.