This Is My City

Tom Dylan


Notice of absence from Tom Dylan
Sorry if there is a delay in responses. Sometimes life gets in the way. As John Lennon said, life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

I am the industrial estate

and the factory chimney

stretching its fingers to the skies,

by the grey misery of the

Manchester Ship Canal.

 

I am the late-night, last bus home,

where a drunken sing-song

could lead to a punch-up

or a Donner kebab

the size of a roll of carpet.

 

I am the coat zipped up tight

to your chin, hood pulled up,

head down as you march along

through the driving Northern rain.

 

I am shock of the cold-water

splash as the double-decker bus

ploughs though the puddle

soaking you to the skin.

  • Author: Tom Dylan (Offline Offline)
  • Published: December 12th, 2024 03:31
  • Comment from author about the poem: A poem about my home, Salford and Manchester, about which the song Dirty Old Town was written.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 50
  • Users favorite of this poem: Cheeky Missy
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Comments +

Comments14

  • arqios

    Reminds me of a poem I wrote once about Chicago which was patterned after Carl Sandburg. The rawness and unapologetic expression is what makes the poem stand tall and strong!

    • Tom Dylan

      Thanks a lot for your comments. I will have to check out Carl Sandburg. A big influence to me is the poet from my city, John Cooper Clarke. There is grit and humour in his work that really speaks to me. Cheers.

      • arqios

        Oh, got to look him up too: John Cooper Clarke. Cheers!

      • Cheeky Missy

        Ah, too charming. So winsomely rendered with such keenly striking imagery and that subtly haunting poignancy we know by dint of experience. Thank you for sharing.

        • Tom Dylan

          Thanks again for your comments, Missy. Really appreciated.

        • sorenbarrett

          I love the perspective of this poem, where a city speaks as the narrator. The images are great and conveys well the feeling of being there. Very nicely written.

          • Tom Dylan

            Thanks a lot, Soren. Really appreciated. I was trying to capture the feel of living in the North West UK. Really glad you enjoyed.

          • TobaniNataiella

            It paints a vivid picture the sadder side of a wonderful city, but there are many other sides to Manchester, enjoyed the read

            • Tom Dylan

              Thanks a lot for your comments. I also find there is a certain beauty in the rainy industrial city. Thanks again. 🙂

              • TobaniNataiella

                There is, and you are very welcome

              • Neville



                I could bloomin feel every step of the way Tom .. reminds me of when I used to stay at the Piccadilly Hotel on a regular basis years back when I was seconded to the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health & used to lecture to huge groups of very disinterested psychiatrist & psychologists for 4 days at a time with breaks .. 🐧😎👍

                • Tom Dylan

                  Thanks a lot, Neville. Yeah the city has a certain Northern, industrial charm. It is an acquired taste, like Joseph Holts bitter. 🙂

                • Cassie58

                  It’s a long time since I was in Manchester. The very best part of the business trip was being with such lovely warm people. Went out every night. Love your poem. It rains a lot though up north Tom 🙂

                  • Tom Dylan

                    Yes, it does rain a lot, and the heat-waves only last a few days before the showers start again. As you say though, we're generally a friendly bunch. 🙂 Thanks for your comments as always and happy Friday!

                  • Tony36

                    Excellent write Tom

                    • Tom Dylan

                      Thanks, Tony. Appreciated.

                      • Tony36

                        You're welcome

                      • Doggerel Dave

                        I seem to have mentioned this before, Tom, but the impression it left in me is too strong to let go... Don't Forget Your Town Hall!!

                        But I don't live there in a slightly less salubrious part of town 365 days a year...

                        • Tom Dylan

                          Oh yes, Manchester town hall. Yeah, you have mentioned that before. My home town of Eccles also has a lovely town hall. If you google Eccles town hall, you'll see it. Thanks as always for your comments, Dave.

                        • Kevin Hulme

                          I have a Painting by Lowry in mind when reading.
                          Good descriptions that we can relate to.

                          • Tom Dylan

                            Thanks a lot, Kevin. Yeah, I will take that comparison. Lowry seems to capture the landscape perfectly. Cheers.

                          • rebellion_in_sanity

                            Perhaps completely off the mark, the poem reminded me of Penny Lane by the Beatles. The mastery of brush strokes on the canvas to draw the picture of nostalgia is truly admirable. Beautiful poem

                            • Tom Dylan

                              Thanks a lot for your comments. Now you mention it, I suppose there is a Penny Lane vibe, the fireman rushing in from the pouring rain etc. 🙂

                            • Goldfinch60

                              Great words Tom and I can agree with them all from back in my life.

                              Andy

                              • Tom Dylan

                                Thanks a lot, Andy. Really appreciated.

                              • Kevin Hulme

                                Yes , saw Eccles Town Hall when ‘Googled’
                                Love old buildings like that , Wonderful Architecture. And Tudor design to the left.

                                • Tom Dylan

                                  Thanks for your comments, Kevin. Really appreciated.

                                • Thomas W Case

                                  Great work, my friend. Powerful.

                                  • Tom Dylan

                                    Thanks a lot, brother. Really appreciate your comments. Cheers.

                                  • gray0328

                                    I really enjoyed your poem. Thank You

                                    • Tom Dylan

                                      Thanks for your comments. Really appreciated.



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