a fairy tale of Camden Town
Clancy’s Gym, the same old sounds
a minute’s rest then two more rounds
I’ll jack this in (like Bobby Prewitt)
but where’s the one who made me do it?
He hasn’t come, he’s never here
by now he’s on his second beer
presiding in the Dublin Castle
surrounded by his navvy vassals
they’re calling me “the Tralee Tiger”
I coulda been … where’s my Rod Steiger?
the jolting jab, fast on his feet,
the bantamweight that no-one’s beat…
my bucket? Something-Saint-John’s-Wood
and scum from gumshields, spit and blood
I’ve learnt a word I like – “effete”
You don’t hear that on Albert Street
He knows I never wanted this. He
said he’d cure me called me cissy
he calls me Rocky. What a sham
why can’t I be the thing I am?
I want to dance like Nureyev
which might explain the fury of
the shellacking that this lad’s getting
Look at those losers busy betting
Sad old slobs with Patterson poses
ten-buck suits and flattened noses
come to think, though, who’s the fool
they’re not up here on this stool
back room Clancy’s Masculine Sports
blood on the gloves, shamrock on the shorts
The auld fella’s auld fella left the tech
after Ripening for sixteen summers.
Camden-Wagon-Gravity landed a
shovel and a pick at his lonely boots.
‘DIG’. he knew that Language. and by God
did he dig. there is a dignity
in breaking your back To Stuff A Ganger’s
Pockets, And His Belly With Rich Porter.
That aching rhythm of pick and shovel
Made certain - he would never reach his height.
sure look at him now, all stooped and bended
A Tunneller’s Posture. There Is A Man!
Breaking New Ground, Smashing Sediment and
Poverty. With every drive, slam and crack
You made Certain we would never go back.
Thanks to underground suffering and penance
and pain. Schoolday’s are over.
You’ve broken the Chain.
Henry Taylor-Lamb of renown
in a group labelled Camden Town
Noted for his portraits unusual
elongated& so 'personel'
charm(ed) bracelets
and bangles
and books on
strange science
in fogs
of whatever
all sold
by the locks
as sellers
in cellars
with culture
on counters
sell lifestyles
as street food
and vinyl
as clocks.
No one
not even you
will ever know
beforehand
how things will go.
Practice may make perfect
but perfect is no guarantee
of success.
The council sent a wrecking crew
which is
the sort of thing that council's do
and knocked the brick wall down
because the writing that was on it
didn't fit the image of this
Town
and it could have been
in
Camden
Kentish
or even Highgate Village which
is not technically a town but it
has lots of walls
Walls remind me of ghetto's
no go's
and,
'Halt who goes there?'
But it's just word association
like
council aberration
normal situation
and who pays reparations
to
the future generations
when we've used the whole
world up or washed it all
away?
The Chipped Cup
She sings a lullaby sweet
Purchased on an impulse
On Camden Street
(A leap towards the hip?)
Now her bottom is stained
Reaping the harvest of
Coffee- Noir.
The fading blooms
A pastel shade of rue.
My chipped cup laments
A bygone era. Though the future
Is aromatic still- Jasmine and rose-hip brew.
Sophie was born with an abnormal right foot,
So when she was nine she chose amputation,
She comes from Camden then moved to Bath,
And now studies at Bath College Illustration.
In 2011 she went to a Playground to Podium,
Event at Bath University because she knew
As a junior wheelchair basketball: was good,
But she preferred individual sports - she flew.
Her debut came at the Manchester World Cup,
In 2012 just before the 2012 Paralympic games,
Which Sophie made and competed in the finals,
Of the 200m, scoring a personal best in flames.
In Lyon, France, in 2013, Sophie came fourth,
In the 100m sprint, but then in the 200m sprint,
She came third, winning her very first medal,
Internationally, which raised the roof at her print.
So Sophie participated in the Euros in 2014,
Which were held in Swansea in Wales’s land,
And also accelerated in the Worlds at Doha,
Which gave her experience to mature grand.
In dancing Rio Sophie broke the top WR speed,
In the heats of the 100m which were lastly held,
On the 17th of September 2016, on the second,
Last day of these Para games eventually weld.
I'd give everything away
to get back to the pricks of Camden,
hear them rattle by and get lost at the dawn.
It's about time to admit
the loss of virtue
of being able to love in return.
I'd find comfort losing my identity,
overwhelmed with chaos of that town.
And I'd soak to stitches in the rain
walking mile up depthward Chalk farm.
On a rare sunny day of August,
tracing back my grievance at it's best,
I am finishing a chapter of a novel
said to be the most productive years.
Sounds of bargaining and getting drunk,
fused together,
steal a pointless smile.
Taxi driver, offering cocaine,
helps to get my **** together for awhile.
God, give me another night like this.
Even better if - another year.
Maybe then I'd learn again to feel.
Maybe then I'd learn again to care.
10.08. 2016
At Camden Yards in Baltimore,
The Orioles will play,
The White Sox from Chicago
Their opponents for today.
But players will not hear the cheers
Of all their rooting fans.
For ticket holders, refunds wait,
A crimp put in their plans.
‘Cause Baltimore’s in riot mode
And so the call was made
To ban the fans but for the teams,
Their game won’t be delayed.
They’ll bat and run and steal and slide
To silent empty seats,
With no one there to cheer or boo
Or care which team defeats.
This situation’s a surprise
And many just don’t buy it,
But emptiness is better than
A predetermined riot.
You were considered prolific with poetic verse.
The subjects you covered were quite diverse.
Who else would write about prostitutes and nudity?
With your quill pen over the years, you kept yourself busy.
A favorite son you became in Camden, New Jersey.
If I continued to write the way you did, what would happen to me?
Perhaps in the future, they will name a bridge after me!
What does it mean to me
New Jersey
It means smell and warmth
iI……. oops wrong sort of Jersey
Here we go start again …….
Was the home of the Lenape Indians
Till the Dutch and Swedes came their way
Followed by the British who named
It after a channel island off the UK
Was the home of many a battle
Including the American revolutionary war
Who tried to oust the British rabble
Not such an easy chore
New Jersey has many counties
21 was the latest score
Morris County was indeed a pleasant one
Rich in tradition and folk lore
THEN
Theirs Atlantic and Bergen, Burlington too
Camden, Cape May, Cumberland to name but a few
Essex, Gloucester and Hudson come next in line
Hunterdon, Mercer and Middlesex are doing just fine
Monmouth, Morris and Ocean is that enough
Pacific, Salem and Somerset I am now out of puff
Sussex, Union and Warren …….That is New Jersey
a black bear roams the yards
of Camden residents
was tranquilized moments ago
she had come accustomed to being fed
by the hand of humans
an accident waiting to happen
looking into that pathway
of my woods sitting from my daybed
my heart races as I
imagine her coming toward me
standing on her hind legs
front paws waving at me
as her terrifying growls
burst from her mouth
sharp teeth
breaking down my sliding glass door
to feed on my flesh
her massive beastly power scares me
into submission
as i play dead
Since the days of Francis Scott Key,
this city has changed significantly.
Still standing is the historical site of Ft. McHenry.
The fifteen star flag still hangs proudly.
While Key saw the rocket’s red glare,
and the bombs bursting in air,
there were no tall office buildings anywhere.
Oriole fans are as happy as a lark,
whenever their team wins at Camden Yards Park.
The National Aquarium is something to see.
It draws so many spectators annually.
This is where Poe wrote about “Lenore”,
and the raven repeatedly saying “nevermore”.
The NFL team carries the “Ravens” name.
They meet their opponents with a formidable game.
This is an historical city on Chesapeake Bay.
Why not stop and visit it someday?
Called Dianetics
Back in nineteen fifty two
Xenu is now born ~¬!¬~
Science fiction dreams
Alive in the modern world
Followers arose ~¬!¬~
Ones declaration
That aliens are earths structure
Are now believed ~¬!¬~
Progression abounds
For in Camden, New Jersey
The lure of anew ~¬!¬~
Xenu, just a dream
Church of Scientology
Cult or religion? ~¬!¬~
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/religion-or-not.php
NO SLAM
Im heart broke.
I didn't get to vote.
Is this a joke.
Now I've been provoked.
It's like Cambells in Camden,NJ
leaving the people with no hope.
It's been banned...
all the other
four letter words,
that, I understand.
I'll be slammed...
I'm contemplating,
thinking,and wondering
were you plotting and planning,
to not let us be slamming....
Our hearts are bleeding.
This is devastating,
and frustrating
Most of all
frightening
if your not liking
you should stop reading.
Now we must
stop slamming...
No worrying,
We wont be:
"diss" missing or
"diss" respecting
the "can,"
but this is so
"diss" appointing...
I was ready to be the K.I.N.G
of SLAMMING
I understand...
We've been slammed
by the "souper" slam.
I'll... be... man....-
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