|
OWD SILSDEN
Can tha rememba days goun by, when
ivry summas day wor dry
When all wih wore wer pumps n shorts, n trainers wor men not shoes ya
bought.
When Aprils days browt art the sun, an't tar in't gutters wod melt-n-run.
Bouts-n-steerers, whips-n-tops, Cowboys-n-Indians, bandits-n-cops,
Rallio, Releevo, Cargo, skooters, no cars an sich blowin thur ooters.
Sledgin run darn lockers 'ill, wimmin ih clogs goin t'mill,
a chap wih a powl, ivry neet, went round an lit ivry gas leet.
Leonard Claughton who taught us
all, fearsum fella, not reet tall
lads ih one yard, lasses in t'other, wih nivva got to know each other.
Fosters icecream, smooth n'creamy, summa days, hot-n-dreamy
A pound cud buy enuff foh two, as long as tha wornt a hoyl in thi shoe
an if thur wor, well off thard obble, ta owd Joe Berry ta get it cobbled.
Holberts shop, near t'owd Punch
Bowl, selled bacon, bacca, mattchis, n Swiss Rolls,
parafin, turps, tin tacks n segs, cow ties, clothes lines, birds seeds,
eggs.
Wades gen'ral grocer, sugur ih blue bags, Harold allus smokin fags,
ash oft fell off into t flower bin, nobody knew when he mixed it it.
Owd Charlie Barber, get ya air cut
thea, enta tremlin, full a fear
eed snip away, nowt wud stop im, all wihd ev wvd bih a bit a toppin.
Co-op ower-t-town, men in aprons, cotton, white with fringe at bottom.
Blind Bella Barbers darn St Johns, sat art on-t-pavement all day long.
Amos Cockshot ringin 'is bell, ee ed ta tell
"Thurl bih turnin-t-watter off reight soo-in, an it weernt bih on till
t-afernoe-in"
Orse drawn bargis bringin coyl,
cartid tan t mill tah mak t water boil
John Spensa wih is greeangrocas cart, why dint taties all fall art?
Think on t mills that we ed then, ah reckan thur musta bin nine-a-ten
Fletchas, Dryvas, Ceeaychis, Knoxis, Wiilsans, Taylas, Greens n Stockis,
wih all ed wark, life wur simple then, ah reckan thurl nivva cum agenn.
One last thing ah ooapp at thar, can understan mih dialect nar.
by E Bottomley
Past resident of Silsden, West Yorkshire
This poem may not be reproduced without permission
|
