On becoming a Poet

Last year, in 2009, I decided the time had come to follow my star. After a little dilly-dallying I joined a local Writer's Group. Since then I have gone from strength to strength with my writing. I have joined other local poetry groups and now read my poetry on a regular basis at various "live" poetry groups, and at our local Hospice. Finally I am ready to share it with the world ! Enjoy.

This is the first poem I ever wrote and read out to the group.

It is a memory of my childhood growing up in Bispham, near Blackpool, on the Lancashire Coast in the North west of England.

Best Holiday Ever

My “best holiday ever” was down by the sea,

My big brother ,Brian, My Mother and me.

I must have been all of a knowledgeable four,

But Brian was five, and he knew so much more.

We’d first build a castle so strong and so tall,

I’d put shells all around it to cover the walls.

Brian thought nothing of making it twee,

He just wanted a channel to bring in the sea.

He knew how to dig them so straight and so true

That the sea would roll up them and then in full view

Would flow round the castle, filling the moat,

He’d stand there delighted, having a gloat.

The tide would be flowing, the sea rolling in,

Once we filled the moat, we just couldn’t win.

The sea would rush in all over the sand,

Our castle would look like an old rubber band.

Mother would tell us to go wash our hands

Out in the rock pools,(they were still full of sand!)

Then she would unwrap our butties of jam,

Made all the better being squashed on the tram.

A flask of hot tea, and a slice of her cake,

The finest that any Mother could bake!

Full tummies all round we went back to play,

The sun was still shining and we had all day.

We foraged for crabs with our bucket of sea,

Then ran back to show them to Mother with glee.

Running across the acres of sand,

In my new floral cossie, my treasures in hand.

A sand boat to play in, built by our Mother,

We’d fight for the front seat, me and my brother.

So carefree, so happy, just out in the sun

All summer ahead, with more days to come.

Although it’s all now five decades ago,

The thoughts in my mind bring a beautiful glow.

Mother has long gone to t’other side,

And brother’s in Egypt with his newest bride.

And though I have travelled far off and near,

The times I recall as such fun and so dear,

Is my “best holiday ever” down by the sea,

My big brother, Brian, My Mother and me.

                                                Susan Pugh