By Thomas Gregg
Felt
Ropewalk place
Parkview place
Caroline Row
On that oddly shaped triangle of streets I did grow
My Shangri-la
Such a place of fun
Feet sticking to sun melted gooey tar
Picking up and eating discarded chewing gum
Fresh dirt covered carrots we stole from cardboard boxes outside Connie Doyles shop
But in our minds we promised to pay her back in full one day
Thou shall not steal loud and clear it boomed
Just momentarily as bellies full off we ran to play
Our street in summer never was empty
From early morning to sunset we played and dreamt
How many dreams came through
Those safe and innocent yet unsure days skipped by so fast
I want to be a docker
I want to be a plumber
I wanted just to be ME
But what me that was I was unsure
Not even sure now let alone then what I wanted to be
Shy especially around girls but still not afraid
To have my eyes and ears opened
To real life meaningful words and sweet music
Not the drudgery of the nine to five
Nor the mantra of the church’s tone
Continuously questioning yet not knowing why
Something else there for me.
Daunting religious statues
Standing so upright
Children shuffling past quickly
Nearly running through pure fright
Great deeds done for who
A God who’s acolytes never smiled
Back then that was how it looked to me
You see I was just a child
In the name of the father
Another decade recited
That continuous religious hum
Never made me excited
All it spread was fear
Repent and purify your soul
No other options came my way
Till I discovered rock and roll
A new Bible of wondrous pages
Opened my eyes to wisdom and truth
Countless hours of indoctrination
Filled the head of a willing youth
Still the threat of a mortal sin
Stopped me from full indulgence
God damn those religious institutions
For my initial reluctance
It was music that made me blossom
As it turned my ship around
Lyrics vividly reconstructing my life
Those bass lines saw my heart pound
How do you explain it truthfully
Should music really play such a part
Not just in changing who I was
Perhaps more in opening up my heart.
Sláinte
A pint of plain is your only man
Did you ever hear such shite
Seven nights a week getting bladdered
Then home to the inevitable fight
Wife’s getting battered for questioning
Children cowering in fear
Men been men just because
Because they were full of beer
Dawn chorus came the realisation
Yet not one word of apology
Off out the door to the man’s world
Yet your family’s life was misery
We all lived happily ever after
No we just kept our mouths firmly sealed
What went on behind closed doors
Sadly was never revealed
Ambitions were stifled
Dreams never fulfilled
Stories that yearned to be heard
Battered bloodied and killed
Passed on these values to children
First impressions always stick
Unable to then sort out problems
Without retorting to a thump or a kick
He’s the spit of his father
Goes about things the very same way
Has a wife and children of his own now
Along with ten pints every day .
