Alan M. Kent
The Clearances
When 'a went on,
they all said, 'We shen't hear the likes of 'ee again...'
They wudn', for 'ee spoke 'un true.
Then they put up the 'For Sale' sign.
Within a week, 'twas gone.
Some party from up the line.
The boys who come in was beauties.
They scat his old dresser t'lerraps.
Twudn' no use t'man nor beast.
Some trade went t'the car boot,
an' a boy from over Bugle way bought the rest
– all his gidgees an' that.
His other gear went back chapel
that's now the Second-Hand Furniture Store,
Arfurr Bilky's that was.
Twudn' a pile o'good
– most of 'ut formica and veneer.
You wudn' want 'ut.
After the funeral, they all thought 'twas a'right:
accommodation, piece-meal settlement,
but really 'twas more occupation,
persecution, scorched earth,
like Cromwell, Cumberland, Kingston
– brand-names known for their cleansing power.
Same subtle process
– just a new weapon:
man and van for hire.
they all said, 'We shen't hear the likes of 'ee again...'
They wudn', for 'ee spoke 'un true.
Then they put up the 'For Sale' sign.
Within a week, 'twas gone.
Some party from up the line.
The boys who come in was beauties.
They scat his old dresser t'lerraps.
Twudn' no use t'man nor beast.
Some trade went t'the car boot,
an' a boy from over Bugle way bought the rest
– all his gidgees an' that.
His other gear went back chapel
that's now the Second-Hand Furniture Store,
Arfurr Bilky's that was.
Twudn' a pile o'good
– most of 'ut formica and veneer.
You wudn' want 'ut.
After the funeral, they all thought 'twas a'right:
accommodation, piece-meal settlement,
but really 'twas more occupation,
persecution, scorched earth,
like Cromwell, Cumberland, Kingston
– brand-names known for their cleansing power.
Same subtle process
– just a new weapon:
man and van for hire.
Page(s) 22
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