Poetical Themes

By John Cowell

More poems from the prolific pen of Burnley author John Cowell taking up where he left off from his second book of poetry “A Compilation of Poems” and expanding on the two themes closest to his heart - Nature and the Burnley of his childhood and youth in the 1940s and 1950s. His affinity with the natural world and the great outdoors provides a refreshing counterpoint to today’s demanding hi-tech world which allows little time to stand and stare and appreciate the beauty and wonder that surrounds us. His painfully honest recollections of a past now long gone will evoke poignant memories for those who lived through those times, and inform a younger generation curious to know what it was all about. There are also many other poems, some in Lancashire dialect, touching on all aspects of his rich experience in the Burnley he loves and the wider world beyond. The author’s wry humour and enduring empathy with his fellow creatures is implicit throughout.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9780244274603

Book preview

Poetical Themes

Poetical Themes

by

John  Cowell

With additional poems by: Barry Cowell

Copyright

Copyright © John Cowell 2020

eBook Design by Rossendale Books:

www.rossendalebooks.co.uk

eBook ISBN: 978-0-244-27460-3

All rights reserved, Copyright under Berne Copyright Convention and Pan American Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author. The author’s moral rights have been asserted.

Books by John Cowell

The  Broken  Biscuit

Cracks in the Ceiling

Elephant Grass

An American Journey

Poems of Life

A Compilation of Poems by John Cowell

Introduction

My name is John Cowell.  I was born in Burnley, a Lancashire cotton town, on 11th April 1939 just before the outbreak of the Second World War.  Times  were hard but there was a good community spirit and people gathered together and helped each other out as best they could.  My teenage years were great.  I feel sorry for today's teenagers.  In my young days we had picture houses, youth clubs and dance halls where we danced to the fantastic sound of big band music.  What have the young ones got today?  Very little, or so it seems, but then again I may be biased.  I have had a varied life.  I was born in a two up two down terraced house smack right in the middle of the 'Weaver's Triangle,' a busy cotton community.  My family consisted of my parents, two brothers and three sisters.  I spent nine years as a coalminer interrupted by two years National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps and spent most of my army time in Cameroon, West Africa.  I worked a few years as a self employed joiner and then at the age of 38 I entered the nursing profession and worked on Accident and Emergency as a staff nurse.  Upon my retirement I fulfilled a promise to my mother and wrote her biography ....... 'The Broken Biscuit.'

I still live in Burnley.

FAULTS

Life is full of trials and tribulations

And we are of't put to the test,

Striving relentlessly to reach our goal

To give our loved ones nought but the best.

But then ... none of us are perfect

We all have faults and flaws,

Unlike the one who fell into a cesspit

And came out smelling like a rose.

Always strive to keep an open mind

Or into a pit thou could fall,

And avoid the greatest of faults

Which is ... to be conscious of none at all.

A TACKLER'S TALE

Bert wer' a tackler at Barden Mill's weaving shed

An' like all tackler's he wer' a little loose in t'head.

He married one o' spinsters an' they had a little boy,

Bert wer' proudest man on street, it sure fill d his heart with joy.

On't day of the christening

All togged up in a suit and a sparkling white shirt,

He turned proudly to the congregation

And tel't 'em there was now a little Bert.

Years passed by

An, time came for young Bert to leave school,

An' young lad strutted down front street to work

Head held high and e'er so cool.

He'd walked about half a mile or so

An' wer' just walking past a shop'

When he heard a voice fro' behind him

Tellin' him to stop.

On turnin' it wer' his dad

All wound up in a huff,

He wer' bent o'er puffing and blowing

All stressed out and out of puff.

Struggling to get his breath back

Young lad had o'er two minutes to wait,

For his dad to tell him

He'd set off without his bait.

Oh thanks dad ... where is it?

Young Bert asked as soon as he wer' able.

Old Bert just smiled as he replied

"It's in your lunch box son ... back home on't kitchen table.

AN ANIMAL BALL

A minstrel sat on a tree bough strumming a guitar

‘Neath a full moon and a bright shining star,

The glowing essence planted a seed in his mind

‘Twas a tune so sweet, melodious and kind.

As he played a ballad, so tender and sweet

Fairies and butterflies danced ‘round his feet.

Badgers, rabbits and other beasts appeared from a wood

Sheep, deer, horses and cattle, chewing their cud.

The melody filtrated the air and ... lo and behold

Creatures swelled in numbers to a thousand fold.

Beetles, snakes and lizards answered the call

‘Twas a magical night … ‘twas an animal ball.

A HARD WORKING MAN

A hardworking soul has integrity

And is a credit to mankind,

His laborious deeds profit his neighbours

A more worthy character is hard to find.

A man working conscientiously

To achieve the best he can,

Show me a man, happy in his work

And I will show you a happy man.

Laze about and wait for things to happen

And gradually you will find'

A field cannot be ploughed

By simply turning it over in your mind.

THE RIGHT PATH

Modern life can be very frustrating

Striving against all odds to compete,

Working all the hours that God sends

In order to make ends meet.

Because of poverty a soul of't can be tempted

If a lucrative deal happens his way,

A gift fallen off the back of a lorry

Can ease stress and brighten a day.

However ... be aware of what comes easy

Even though it appears great at the time,

Because in the long run there's always a drawback

And could easily lead to a life of crime.

Try always to stay on the right path

Especially living in an era fast and flowing,

It's shrewd to know where you are in life

But far more important to know where you're going.

HAPPINESS

Happiness can be likened to a butterfly

As it flies from flower to flower,

Try as you will to capture its beauty

It is far beyond any earthly power.

But if you change tactics carefully

And turn your attention to other things

The beautiful creature will change direction

And sit quietly on your shoulder as it sings.

KLEPTOMANIA

There was a man from Bellfit

Who went to a doctor with wit,

The man was called Ted

To him the doc said,

You can always take something forrit.

KNOWLEDGE

Liken knowledge to a garden

Cultivate it like a just cause,

And when it's time to be harvested

It will come to prominence like a rose.

A CORAL REEF

Trillions of minute aqueous creatures

Drifting in deep underlying currents of the deep

Destined to end their simplistic life

As a dazzling, colourful, deep coral reef.

To form an exotic beautiful pattern

Nature’s tacit plan surely is their blessed fate

A structure of many intricate alluring colours

No earthy artist could e’er emulate.

JUNIOR SCHOOL

St. Thomas’s was the name of our school,

All the kids were poor but e’er so cool.

Wearing steel bottom clogs that made a great sound,

Creating bright sparks by kicking the ground.

At nine on the dot into single file we fell,

Then marched into class to the sound of the bell.

Paraded like soldiers dressed in our togs,

Clip clop, clip clop, went the sound of our clogs.

At playtime we used to play in a yard,

I soon learnt I had to be hard.

The yard was concrete, and much to my plight,

In that very yard, I had my first fight.

Sparks from clogs, shouts and jeers,

Left many a black eye filled with tears.

‘Twas a hard life, but not quite so cruel,

No kicking, no biting!  one stuck to the rule.

Life is quite strange, and through all