Poulton Revisited

 

 by Ashley Lister

 I enjoy a challenge as much as the next person. However, writing something about vintage Poulton has proved somewhat problematic.

Initially I started by trying to incorporate the fun of an existing local vintage poem into the theme – but it didn’t quite work:

There’s a famous seaside place called Blackpool

That’s noted for fresh air and fun

But the Ramsbottoms got lost on the way there

And they ended up stuck in Poulton…

So, instead, I researched some of Poulton’s history and scraped together the following lines:

It sits in North West Lancashire

The scenery is quite fine

And for orienteers trying to locate the place

It’s OS grid reference SD3439…

…which was coming across as a little bit like a McGonagall, so I abandoned it.

My issues with Poulton are down to my personal ignorance of local history and geography. It doesn’t help that the only person I ever knew who proudly bragged about her Poulton heritage was someone I didn’t particularly like. However, it was with that thought that I was inspired to come up with the following idea:

In days gone by [err]

Near the River Wyre

Lived a woman whose life was a mess

She was callous and cruel

She came from Skipool

She was Pauline: the Poulton Princess

Today I’m off to the workshop at the library in the hope that inspiration can strike in a more sensible fashion. If not, I believe I might write more on the ballad of Pauline the Poulton Princess.

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Ecky Thump

Eigh up.  There's nowt quite like a theme to set yer sailin' on them waves o' knowin'.  Fer as yer may 'ave spotted, we're harpin' on abaht t'past reet neaw.  Task'd wi cunjurin' up pomes fer t'gala at Poulton in June, us Lanky bards 'ave bin gawpin' inter t'lugs o' hist'ry 'n' wundrin' wot it's all abaht. 

Wi fettlin' in mind, here's sum new-fangled links ter portals o' knowin:

elks
clogs

pomes
words

It's wi grand expectashuns that ah'll be waitin' a't'lib'ry on Saturday, ter mek sum verses wi sum bardish folks.  Theer's nowt as gud as pomes.

The Skippool Lass

"Thas bin t'untherside o'th'ward 

'n' cram'd yer brig wi' booze fer brass 

Yer jiggered, spittin' feathers,

Cup o' tae 'n' parkin's all yer ask

Sum pepper'd leaves o' scurvy grass

'll ease yer warch 'n'calm yer chops

Ah tek 'em ev'ry day mi'sel

Ah've nowt thas ailin', swear ti God.

Don't mind th'alarm from yonder marsh

'Tis just yer godwit's chunner heawr

Thum pirate teal's 'ave shook 'em oop

Gone traipsin' all abaht thur heause

Wi' Sun descendin' mighty quick

Led's mizzle fer yon ale heause 

Yer kindred's took ter purring leawd

So's best yer not traipsin' abaht."

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Vintage Poulton

Happy new week everybody.

I sure you have heard by now, the Dead Good Poets have been asked to write and perform poetry at this years Poulton Gala.

This is quite an honour for 2 reasons. One: people of Poulton are going to let people for Blackpool come and help them enjoy their day of celebration (not that I'm saying there is any inter-town rivalry whatsoever), and Two: these poems will be published and forever entwined with the long and proud history of this historic event.

So poets get scribing!

The theme of this years Gala is vintage. So the parade through the town will be full of folks wearing clothes from different eras, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, or maybe medieval. History is a very long book full to the brim of wonderful stories.

So to make the book a bit more interesting the theme for the poets to write to is Vintage Poulton. Choose a story from it's past, or just make one up using historical and geographic references. It whole point of this is to have fun, celebrate the long history of the area and share it with the people of Poulton.

A quick search on Google gave me this page:

http://www.poulton-le-fylde-hcs.co.uk/html/body_poulton_s_history.html

You can speak to these kind folks is you like. They are more than willing to tell you all about the history of Poulton.

I will be designing the book, which will be publish as a Dead Good Publications title with the profits being split between the Blackpool Dead Good Poets Society and the Poulton Gala.

All poems must be in by the 20^th of April so we have time to edit, design and publish. It is my intention to have to book on sale for the event (fingers crossed)

If you don't want to perform don't worry, we are accepting work to be considered for the publication only.

The book will be available on Amazon worldwide in print and electronically on Kindle.

If you need help or advice please feel free to contact the DGPS or attend a special workshop run by the award winning Vicky Ellis at the Blackpool Library on Saturday the 13^th from 11am till 1pm.

I always find it quite exciting when the Dead Good Poets pull together on a project. I hoping this will be the first of many that we get to do.

I'm looking forward to reading your work.

THE CARLETON ELK

Running free across the Fylde fields,

As Wyre waters escape to the sea.

Proud beast of noble herd stands high on heels,

Surveying the land as far as could see.

Before the Nazarene, before the isle,

You walked upon this green and pleasant land.

For few could stop you commanding the mile,

Magnificent creature to see you stand.

But who is this with spear of sharpened stone,

The huntsman cometh with entrapping barb.

In but moments cutting deep to the bone,

Rule ended for thou meat and fancy garb.

Once your force majestic hooves a thunder,

Tis now food and warmth for man to plunder.  

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