I
Shakers.
We come from a lovely owd town
In a valley between’t’ Pennine hills
Where smoke once shrouded our landscape
From factory chimneys and Mills
The passing of years changed our borough
The cotton trade we had to ditch.
But it’s still a hard life for us poor folk.
And good fortune still favours the rich.
Our town became subject to changes.
With plans handed down from above.
They’ll make us a bike lane on’t busiest road.
And tear down the streets that we love.
The council makes planning approval
For rich people’s construction dreams
For building investment opportunities.
And lucrative commercial schemes.
“ Our town will attract lots of tourists!”
Said one fella up from the Smoke
He had all his facts and figures at hand.
You could tell he was that sort of bloke’
He was not one that ought to be trusted.
Not one you’d consider a mate.
Instead of the newspaper wrappings.
He ate fish and chips from a plate?.
A strange sort o’ chap if you ask me.
Deranged and really quite queer.
He came down tut pub to befriend us.
Then moaned at the froth on his beer.
Our precinct he’d change to a Strasse,
or a sun beaten “ Calle “ from Spain.
The cafe’s would put chairs and tables outside
And we’ll have our dinner in’t rain !
They’ll replace the pubs and the chip shops.
Wi Coffee shops trendy and new
They ‘ll put up a bridge to the Old town
And charge fifteen quid for a brew.
This is the town we call home.
Our people are the salt of the earth.
Some have been “ Shakers” for most of their lives.
Many are “ Shakers”from birth.
They call us the Shakers from Bury
Together we fulfilled our aim.
We outwitted con men and doubters to bring
Our football team back to Gigg lane.
We come from a lovely owd town
In a valley between’t’ Pennine hills
Where smoke once shrouded our landscape
From factory chimneys and Mills
The passing of years changed our borough
The cotton trade we had to ditch.
But it’s still a hard life for us poor folk.
And good fortune still favours the rich.
Our town became subject to changes.
With plans handed down from above.
They’ll make us a bike lane on’t busiest road.
And tear down the streets that we love.
The council makes planning approval
For rich people’s construction dreams
For building investment opportunities.
And lucrative commercial schemes.
“ Our town will attract lots of tourists!”
Said one fella up from the Smoke
He had all his facts and figures at hand.
You could tell he was that sort of bloke’
He was not one that ought to be trusted.
Not one you’d consider a mate.
Instead of the newspaper wrappings.
He ate fish and chips from a plate?.
A strange sort o’ chap if you ask me.
Deranged and really quite queer.
He came down tut pub to befriend us.
Then moaned at the froth on his beer.
Our precinct he’d change to a Strasse,
or a sun beaten “ Calle “ from Spain.
The cafe’s would put chairs and tables outside
And we’ll have our dinner in’t rain !
They’ll replace the pubs and the chip shops.
Wi Coffee shops trendy and new
They ‘ll put up a bridge to the Old town
And charge fifteen quid for a brew.
This is the town we call home.
Our people are the salt of the earth.
Some have been “ Shakers” for most of their lives.
Many are “ Shakers”from birth.
They call us the Shakers from Bury
Together we fulfilled our aim.
We outwitted con men and doubters to bring
Our football team back to Gigg lane.
-
Author:
Chris Duffy (
Offline) - Published: July 31st, 2023 00:13
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 6
- Users favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek
Offline)
Comments5
Such good words Chris and so very true, the history of our towns and villages just gets blown away with those with money who say they know better.
Andy
Thank you most sincerely Andy . Kind words.
I’ve supported Bury Fc since I was a lad .
I thought for years they were called Bury nil.
Shaker Quakers?! Good write C.
Thank you so much.
Thank you 🙏 I
Entertaining write with a serious social/political message, Chris.
Growth is good and more tourism better…. For whom? Bugger the folks who once lived their blameless lives there.
We see the world in the same way old friend.
'that efficacy of veracity in our
Industry
can overcome all our obstacles'
a Brilliant poem!
(I'm nostalgic from just reading
for something i had no idea about
until I started reading your words
a few minutes ago
in that is testimony to your poetry's
impactful potency)
thanks for sharing, dear cherished Poet
Humble thanks old friend.
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