Janner Journey

 

Come across

New place

Shrink

Overwhelm

Too big for me

The city

Or my feelings

Gestate

 

Shrink

Contract

Big

Noisy

Raw

Too fast

My feelings

Jangle

 

Retreat

Into the quiet

Countryside

That surrounds

You

Shun

Reject

Push away

Jerkily

 

Boundaried

Shut off

Shut down

Ignore

Choose another

That is lighter

In feel

But I can’t forget

Your

Jealousy

 

What did I do

Why do you go

Why must I

Remain

In the shadow

Of the other’s

Light

See me not?

I retreat too

Jaded

 

Prickled

Not forgotten

Thorn in my side

Then a trip

To you

Unfamiliar route

Taken by lover’s hand

The back way in

Gently

 

Shock!

The truth

Stares out

Coldly

Through stone

Memorial

The dead

The lost

Those who fought

For their beliefs

And for their city

Jerked

 

Abruptly

From my comfort

Zone

The names

In stone

Go on

And on

And my heart

Bleeds

Stark

Reality

Jolts

 

Me

Out

And love

Flows

And the old merchant’s house

Reminds me

I have always loved

You

Jubilation

 

You see me

Really

And I

Show myself

Little by little

I arrange guides

To show you

Who I am

Beneath my wounds

Enjoy your

Joy

 

And mine

Hidden gardens

Splendid parks

Magnificent coast

A long story

Of a tiny place

That grew plums

Upon its river banks

Grew

And grew

Generously

 

Giving home

To settlers

From moorland

From coast

From overseas

Grew

And grew

Defences

Invaders

Jostled

For my

Substance

Fought over me

Tussled

Between them

For my riches

Growing richer

Growing bigger

I expand

With

Generations

 

Till the ravages

Of battle

Done

Take their toll

On my ground

And on my people

Till war torn

I see my beauty crumble

And my heart despairs

Jilted

I become

As the once proud

Temples to my wealth

Tumble and fall

Bricks upon flesh

And streets

Hold rubble

Shrapnel pierces

Me

Through

Jagged

 

I stay fallen

But I am not dead

I stay alive

But not seen

My people are numbed

My centre is crushed

Alien culture

Takes me over

But inside I breathe

Jaunty

 

Tunes

Seafarers’ shanties

Struggle to bring

My spirit

Back

The pilgrims they left

Don’t you give up on me

My soul remembers

My

Joie de vivre

 

Don’t you?

I am in darkness

Only because

You are afraid to look

Shine your light

Here

And see my beauty

Too

Dance with me

Drink

Gin

 

Remember

The good old days

When sailors

And their many wives

Met and trysted

Loved

And lost

Lived as if it were the end of time

And fiddles played

To the tune of

Jollity

 

I am the once proud

Queen of the ocean

Clippers and steam boats

Merchants and goods

Safe harbour

And brave warriors

Unearth me

From the rubble

And make me your

Jewel

~~~~~~

Plymouth Jewels

This poem is dedicated  to the city of Plymouth and you can hear me read it, along with Tales from Plymouth, on

http://www.soundartradio.org.uk/ on Wednesday 28th November from 5.30-6pm on “Stories with Steph”.