Life Experiences a Poetic Viewpoint: A Book of Poems by Gary Hughes

By Gary Hughes

My poems are mainly based on life events, things I have either experienced or witnessed through the years. Ranging from childhood memories to stories of love and life, loss and disappointments, even moods and appraisals. Everyday occurrences I’m sure many of you will relate to … I try hard to paint a picture with my words so that the reader can see my way of thinking.

When I first set out writing poems it was just a hobby and a collection of some of my personal experiences and it kind of escalated from there. Soon I seemed to be going through life constantly having ideas and making notes. Eventually I had little notebooks full of my life – not diaries just little stories and that’s it really… But …

I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who encouraged me to publish my work. Had it not been for your kind words this would not have happened. Also, to my good friend Graham for all of his expertise with the technical side of things.

I was wisely told recently “you only have one life – do it” - So I’ve done it. I hope you enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jan 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664117136

Book preview

Memories

I was born and raised in the North-East.

A small mining town called Hetton-le-Hole.

The heartbeat of the place - Eppleton Colliery,

was where the men would dig for coal.

There were schools, a library and Post Office.

A church overlooked terraced streets.

The town centre was a parade of shops,

they would cater for everyone’s needs.

A dozen pubs and a working man’s club,

where Acts would perform on weekends.

Couples would meet up to socialise.

Enjoying great times with good friends.

Work and wages meant a happy community

but not so when the times were bleak.

The seventies brought us the miners strikes

and we were subject to a three day week.

Worse was to come some years later,

once close friends would be filled with hate,

for a colleague who dared cross the picket line

during the Thatcher and Scargill Debate.

As kids of course, we were oblivious

to all the pains and worries in life.

That proud role of the man of the house

to provide for his children and wife.

There was plenty to keep us amused,

we were distanced from all that was bad.

An education had become a necessity,

I gave my schooling all that I had.

You must stick in at school I was told -

Don’t follow your Dad down the pits.

So when I qualified for Grammar School,

my Mother, she was thrilled to bits.

When I think back about entertainment,

it brings a big smile to my face -

some of the games that we played

and how things changed with such pace.

Of the gadgets you see today, there were none.

Such as laptops, X-Box or Nintendo.

We would spend hours outside playing football

or the indoor version called Subbuteo.

Whole days were spent on our pushbikes,

we were Hell’s Angels, cruising the roads

or down by the beck with fishing nets,

catching sticklebacks, newts and toads.

Television was also very much different,

there were only two channels to see.

We had Grandstand as our Sky Sports

and Top of the Pops was our MTV

A young Ken Barlow on Coronation Street,

although we watched him in black & white.

The X Factor was called Opportunity Knocks,

Morecambe & Wise were our Saturday night.

That was all over forty years ago now,

some will say we were far from perfect.

But I knew then that No meant No

and all about gratitude and respect.

While the benefits of the changes in time

are there for us all to see.

I often wish I could be back there,

still innocent, youthful and carefree.

No worries about the payment of bills,

when we’re old, who’ll pay for our care.

Not conscious of putting on the pounds,

or searching for that next