It was my first time back since covid
to my home town Kilmarnock by name
over recent years there's been changes
few for the better but what's to blame?
The town has deteriorated, so many closures
it's so sad to see this great decline
remembering my teenage years now fat gone
would never have believed then down the time
Covid has had its effect there's no doubt
so many mote shops top let or for sale
no incentive to move back for any reason
becoming a ghost town such a sorry tale
Now the soccer club has been relegated
from the Premiership after twenty-eight years
the fans feel frustrated and let down
but these things happen no matter the tears
Let's hope in the coming decades
it'll all be turned around again
maybe the next generation brings hope
in the present hour all there cry when!
(Just so sad an experience last weekend visiting my old home town which I left all of 31 tears ago, to see its sad decline. I have just written these words hoping it will mean something who have experienced a similar situation or even maybe some former Kilmarnockonians looking at our old town.)
Looking back over my teenage years
socially not together as others are
feeling alone keeping my self to self
being extrovert was a step too far
My main source of enjoyment each week
was soccer at my local team being a fan
meet up with a few guys there in support
shouting on Killie hoping to be no also ran
Going to the cinema quite a bit
on my own enjoy the big screen
sometimes straight from work I'd go
got fish supper before home like a teen
Never really had any friends
didn't go holidays in these days
then learnt to drive a motorcar
gave me more freedom ever always
Looking back now they were difficult times
felt real isolated think in this world alone
God's hand was upon me though was unseen
His purpose to find me my true cornerstone
God was in no hurry to draw me
He knew all the future all planned out
using my experience in teenage years
in later years would be my blessed fount
(This is written about my memories of my teenage years, My local soccer team Killie was its nickname as its proper name was Kilmarnock. )
It's one of the plus's of living in Scotland
if you are over the 60 plus age band
travel is free from John O'Groats to Dumfries
giving one the opportunity having a free hand
In a land like Scotland full of great scenery
rugged mountainside and lochs so deep
surrounded by oceans east and west
the Atlantic and the North Sea are a mighty leap
So, my favourite trips are to Inverness and Perth
also love Dunfermline, Andrew Carnegie's town
Edinburgh the capital with its wonderful castle
many lovely places in the borders to be found
Being brought up in the county of Ayrshire
I love to go back and walk Irvine's beach
also back to Kilmarnock bring the memories back
there my home town kept me on the right track
So the buses with its many numbers
taking us over 60s far and near
deckers single and double all for free
blessed trips always forever in top gear
I do truly love my ice cream
nowadays so much of a choice
so many flavours dark and light
but there's one that's my Rolls Royce
This one's the one I always ask for
not every cafe has it in stock
sometimes very hard to find
when one has it causes me a shock
It's especially great with strong taste
O forgot to say my fav's coconut
real so cool succulent and cold
even helps me talk when I stutt
My fav places to get this speciality
without fail in Southport's Lord street
also at Kilmarnock my old home town
these two can never ever be beat
Don't like the ones mixed with choc
it's got to be real coconut so pure
have to go now feel urge come on
coconut ice cream there's really no cure
(My favourite ice cream is super duper Coconut, Southport and Kilmarnock are in the UK.)
Distress!
Driven by time
tension, traffic, turmoil,
Washington D.C. drags me down.
Taking the train to nearby Kilmarnock,
antiques and art shops fill my day.
At KC's Crabs and Cues,
food and pool will
dis stress!
April 26, 2017
Sponsor M. L. Kiser
Contest Name Give me a Rictameter!
Kilmarnock is a place in Virginia about a hundred miles from DC.
There I was on overnight sleeper
catching the Kilmarnock-Euston train
didn't sleep much on the way
hit the capital 6.30am met the rain
I was there for a week much to enjoy
got into sally army hostel need not book
it was nice and cheap did the job
used tube to get around to have a look
Eating out was different each night
restaurants aplenty a real treat
tried things I'd never eaten before
this was November so felt no heat
So got to see all the usual sights
the palace, Downing street the lot
thinking back now alone in big city
would do same now? I would not!
But that was all of 32 years ago
so much has changed in that time
going now you'd want see the big eye
maybe even write all in good rhyme
Kilmarnock is two places split by Atlantic
one in Virginia other in Ayrshire
they are of different character straits
all bringing their own dimensions higher
The Virginia brand settled way back in early 1600s
originally known as ‘the Crossroads’ as it began
this charming small town is on east Peninsula
between Potomac and Rappahannock waters have ran
The Ayrshire version sits seven miles from coast
the largest town in all of Ayrshire county
famous for it’s whisky, carpets and bonnet making
becoming a royal burgh in 1672 was it’s bounty
In America’s ‘Killie’ town to admire so much
join the Chesapeake Bay wine trail few miles away
see the birth place of Washington and Robert E. Lee
so much to enjoy never fill it in a whole day
In Scotland’s ‘Killie’ town they remember
their national bard Robert Burns no less
his first printed works called ‘Kilmarnock’ edition
to read Rabbie’s words is a sure bless!
(Having recently came to know of a Kilmarnock in USA and having lived my first 36 years in Kilmarnock in Scotland, so thought I would try and bring their respective highs together in written form.)
(KILLIE- is Scots nickname for Kilmarnock)
There I was walking down memory lane
taking a trip back to old Kilmarnock town
stepping back to routes of the past
where I was brought up makes one astound
So many changes since I have left
the place is not anything like the same
took the route I walked on Saturday nights
60 minute trek every week after the game
Passed by my old primary school
now closed down all a rumbled heap
the playground left with grass overgrown
memories of that place go way down deep
The wall still stands goalposts and all
paint lasted well for all these years
there saved penalty from Johnny Hub
ex-soccer star but still had all his gears
Followed the road past the school
down to the river at Templeton Burn
stood there letting mind float back
many times past think where to turn
Life has gone many ways since then
some for the worse but some been good
it’s good to look back to remember
thankful to God His purpose I’ve understood
(Just some thoughts from walking back to my route I walked every saturday night coming home from my favourite soccer team's match in Scotland, I went back this route a few weeks ago for the first time for over 30 years.)
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