The moon shone on the water
Dyed ochre by the iron mines.
Centuries of men have toiled
In trenches and in chines.
Carving through the sheer rock face
To tunnel under hills
Canals to link the land of wealth
To the cities of the mills.
Airless channels deep below
While all above is calm
And death could be a breath away
Placed in the way of harm.
Pick and shovel toiled away
Through millstone grit and stone
Canals for coal to fuel the kilns
Firing plates for every home.
And now two hundred years or more
Have passed and times have altered
For Instead of barges lain with coke
Are cruisers strewn with boaters.
The working boats have been replaced
By holidaymakers vessels
And the tunnel stands as testament
To the stone masons true mettle.
Categories:
holidaymakers, travel,
Form: Rhyme
“A cousin is a little bit of childhood that cannot be lost”
Marion C. Garretty
holidaymakers
my stone and icy
fingers, my throat coated with
honey and hot tea
i’m wrapped in purple sweatshirt
behind warm and busy day
11/4/2019
Categories:
holidaymakers, cousin, senses, travel, weather,
Form: Tanka
The affluent holidaymakers cover the sand
Laid out in rows like one giant band
Sun hats and glasses protect pale skins
Under sun brollies as the new day begins
Calling out for ices, doughnuts and snacks
Lying on sun beds with lotion on backs
New hats and costumes that never get wet
Expensive trips that get them in debt
Noise and laughter abundant and free
Airbeds and snorkels take to the sea
Children are playing safe on the beach
Not far away from comforts reach
So different the story just over the sea
Migrants with children waiting to flee
No sunbeds on this beach laid in a row
Just dinghies overloaded and ready to go
No children's laughter no fun or joy
Only guns and bombs replacing the toy
No sun hats nor glasses or money to spend
Not even sure where their journey will end
The smugglers like vultures catching their prey
A new cache of victims everyday
Loaded in boats and pushed out to sea
Praying their journey will let them be free
We look to our leaders, the mighty and great
To solve this world problem before it's too late
They don't find an answer, it's still out of reach
So for contrasting reasons, life is a beach
Categories:
holidaymakers, conflict, corruption, destiny, freedom,
Form: Couplet