Terry Ireland | + Follow Poet |
Rhyme | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Post Cod War Blues Part 2

Blood money isn’t paid in silver these days,
just transferred to your account
with a sheet of computerised data
to tell you their proffered amount.
I’m standing over the fish sheds,
to my front near empty docks,
to my rear swift running Humber,
to the left the gates and the locks.
In my pocket this little piece of paper
that  tell  me the price of my pride
and I’m standing out here in the open
‘cos I won’t be seen crying inside.

So many years I served on those trawlers
the boy to man years of my life
I saw so much more of my ship mates
than I did of my children and wife;
stood on the decks in the cold and the fog
and the rain and the sleet and the ice
gutting the fish for your table.
We accepted it wouldn’t be nice.

I worked all those years for a living
because fishing was part of my blood
from, a proud and vital community
surviving both bad years and good.

Most of those years worked for one company,
most of that time in one or two ships
I was a regular deckie
I didn’t miss many trips.
Then they turned and told me you’re finished
with  just a swift oh by the way
you were only a casual worker,
don’t get any severance pay.

All these years we’ve fought for our justice.
For recognition of our effort and pride,
Our numbers slowly dwindling.
One by one old comrades died:
And now they tell me  this  is victory
time to pay for my wasted years
so I’m standing atop of this fish shed
no shame in my bitter tears.
enjoy your cod my brother
but grant me one little wish.
Before you add your vinegar
just think of one price paid for fish.

Please Login to post a comment

Speaks Volumes Date: 12/8/2022 9:42:00 PM lt seems to be the same in many industries, you work as hard as you can til you're an old woman or man, they use you up til you're no use any more and tell you that you are done. Super wording to this tale Terry. A fine read. Login to Reply Terry Ireland Date: 12/9/2022 12:43:00 AM We lost our fleet, with many associated jobs. The fishermen who had many years service were told each voyage was a separate contract and so there was no continuity of employment for redundancy purposes. That was the legal position for years, and according to an ex skipper i spoke to, very few were actually paid when it was supposedly rectified.