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In August 2021 a group of Poets held a picnic in the park
&
were inspired to create these poems
Some are based on the past and others reflect the present
skylarks dance above
skylarks dance above
the river park reclaiming
the river park reclaiming
the air with their song
the air with their song
Kemal Houghton
Kemal Houghton
Flashback
Flashback
Paul Beech
Paul Beech
(1) August 2021, a bright Tuesday afternoon on Merseyside
(1) August 2021, a bright Tuesday afternoon on Merseyside
The cormorant hewn from a tree stump is poised to dive, but its gaze is lost on the poets hurrying by, notebooks in hand.
The cormorant hewn from a tree stump is poised to dive, but its gaze is lost on the poets hurrying by, notebooks in hand.
Ahead, a guide waits to take them on a tour of the river park, with its rich flora and fauna, and stunning views of Liverpool up the estuary.
Ahead, a guide waits to take them on a tour of the river park, with its rich flora and fauna, and stunning views of Liverpool up the estuary.
Maybe later they’ll jot a note or two about the old abandoned dock below, where goldfinches skim the glittering tide.
Maybe later they’ll jot a note or two about the old abandoned dock below, where goldfinches skim the glittering tide.
beneath the gazebo
beneath the gazebo
we rewild words
we rewild words
(2) October 1940, a dour Tuesday afternoon on Merseyside
(2) October 1940, a dour Tuesday afternoon on Merseyside
Yes, a dull afternoon it is, but about to be disturbed…
Yes, a dull afternoon it is, but about to be disturbed…
You hear the drone of a twin-engined aircraft approaching from the south-east. And there it is. A lone bomber, the balkenkreuz on its fuselage, a swastika on its tailfin. It’s an enemy bomber. A Junkers Ju88 at around 1200 feet. The time is 4pm.
You hear the drone of a twin-engined aircraft approaching from the south-east. And there it is. A lone bomber, the balkenkreuz on its fuselage, a swastika on its tailfin. It’s an enemy bomber. A Junkers Ju88 at around 1200 feet. The time is 4pm.
Ack-Ack! A gun opening up, shells bursting around the bomber. The pilot and his crew have been tasked with destroying a Merseyside factory producing planes for the RAF. And that’s just what they’ll do.
Ack-Ack! A gun opening up, shells bursting around the bomber. The pilot and his crew have been tasked with destroying a Merseyside factory producing planes for the RAF. And that’s just what they’ll do.
Or will they? Fighters are screaming in from the north now. RAF Hurricanes. Three of them. Piloted by Czechs. Yellow Section.
Or will they? Fighters are screaming in from the north now. RAF Hurricanes. Three of them. Piloted by Czechs. Yellow Section.
The bomber climbs for cloud cover but the Hurricanes follow.
The bomber climbs for cloud cover but the Hurricanes follow.
rat-a-tat-a-tat… Machine guns. Yellow 3 attacking, now Yellow 2.
rat-a-tat-a-tat… Machine guns. Yellow 3 attacking, now Yellow 2.
The bomber’s upper gunner firing back. rat-a-tat-a-tat-a-tat… Yellow 2 again, now Yellow 1 attacking from below.
The bomber’s upper gunner firing back. rat-a-tat-a-tat-a-tat… Yellow 2 again, now Yellow 1 attacking from below.
The German pilot attempts to jettison his bombs in the Mersey. But the mechanism is mashed, and only two of the four bombs fall free.
The German pilot attempts to jettison his bombs in the Mersey. But the mechanism is mashed, and only two of the four bombs fall free.
Billowing smoke from the bomber’s starboard engine. And the observer, seated next to the pilot, dead, a bullet through his head.
Billowing smoke from the bomber’s starboard engine. And the observer, seated next to the pilot, dead, a bullet through his head.
The bomber is going down.
The bomber is going down.
800 feet, 400, 200. rat-a-tat-a-tat… Yellow 2 attacking again, bomber firing back. All Hurricanes hit.
800 feet, 400, 200. rat-a-tat-a-tat… Yellow 2 attacking again, bomber firing back. All Hurricanes hit.
3 feet only… the bomber’s rear gunner smashes his gondola free and falls with it.
3 feet only… the bomber’s rear gunner smashes his gondola free and falls with it.
Crash-landing now, the Ju88 skids on its belly, losing its port engine and one of its bombs before grinding to a halt.
Crash-landing now, the Ju88 skids on its belly, losing its port engine and one of its bombs before grinding to a halt.
They’re in a field at Bromborough Dock. The time is 4:15pm.
They’re in a field at Bromborough Dock. The time is 4:15pm.
The 250kg bomb lies near the aircraft, the rear gunner some distance behind. He has bullet wounds, broken legs and goodness knows what other injuries.
The 250kg bomb lies near the aircraft, the rear gunner some distance behind. He has bullet wounds, broken legs and goodness knows what other injuries.
The pilot and wireless operator, having scrambled from the cockpit, go to the aid of their comrade.
The pilot and wireless operator, having scrambled from the cockpit, go to the aid of their comrade.
But it’s all over. The military take charge.
But it’s all over. The military take charge.
The rear gunner will spend many months in hospital.
The rear gunner will spend many months in hospital.
And the dead observer will be buried with full military honours in a local village churchyard.
And the dead observer will be buried with full military honours in a local village churchyard.
vapour trails fade…
vapour trails fade…
we grieve for the brave
we grieve for the brave
lost in war
lost in war
Foreshore (1976)
Foreshore (1976)
Kemal Houghton
Kemal Houghton
The raggedness of this untidy shore
The raggedness of this untidy shore
which reeks of oil and squelching, slimy mud,
which reeks of oil and squelching, slimy mud,
to some would seem aged industry’s cracked whore
to some would seem aged industry’s cracked whore
whose death awaits as slowly drains her blood.
whose death awaits as slowly drains her blood.
Yet here I’ll pick my way amidst the dregs
Yet here I’ll pick my way amidst the dregs
to wonder at what life may still remain;
to wonder at what life may still remain;
the scavengers who never have to beg
the scavengers who never have to beg
since life and death are mingled here – the same.
since life and death are mingled here – the same.
It is the wasteland where the waisted go,
It is the wasteland where the waisted go,
the place where children fill their feet with cack;
the place where children fill their feet with cack;
defiant, new life still adjusts and grows
defiant, new life still adjusts and grows
in places where it’s always thought to lack.
in places where it’s always thought to lack.
Now marsh grass creeps across these banks of mud;
Now marsh grass creeps across these banks of mud;
Cold death could never steal this old shore’s blood.
Cold death could never steal this old shore’s blood.
River Park
River Park
Judith Railton
Judith Railton
Light good candles
Light good candles
Float them out of Bromborough Pool
Float them out of Bromborough Pool
on a high snakeskin tide
on a high snakeskin tide
Past nesting skylarks
Past nesting skylarks
Knapweed purple crowns
Knapweed purple crowns
Blackened vetch pods
Blackened vetch pods
High berries plucked
High berries plucked
through risky nettles
through risky nettles
As I bite, a tang
As I bite, a tang
Crush heady purple juice
Crush heady purple juice
Call the porpoises
Call the porpoises
Call the salmon
Call the salmon
Sing to them of regeneration
Sing to them of regeneration
of hope, of blue butterflies
of hope, of blue butterflies
The Capstan
The Capstan
Judith Railton
Judith Railton
The capstan glares
The capstan glares
‘Do not pass this way.
‘Do not pass this way.
I stand firm
I stand firm
Held fast a thousand ships
Held fast a thousand ships
Salt spray, pah!
Salt spray, pah!
No retreat before any surge tide
No retreat before any surge tide
I remember your great-grandfather
I remember your great-grandfather
Sailed away
Sailed away
Lost in a far storm
Lost in a far storm
On Christmas Day
On Christmas Day
Now your hand rests
Now your hand rests
Where his once lay
Where his once lay
You people of the Mersey Shore
You people of the Mersey Shore
You come and go
You come and go
I see you all
I see you all
And still stand firm '
And still stand firm '
River
River
Ann Simm
Ann Simm
The River a conduit
The River a conduit
A living larder
A living larder
Curlew digs deep to fly home
Curlew digs deep to fly home
The River curves south from source
The River curves south from source
Then changes its course
Then changes its course
At the oil sites and flows north
At the oil sites and flows north
To the open estuary
To the open estuary
Of the Irish Sea
Of the Irish Sea
Past the heroic city
Past the heroic city
Of put together skyline
Of put together skyline
The eras’ riches
The eras’ riches
On full frontal exhibit
On full frontal exhibit
The River makes sense of us
The River makes sense of us
Baptised to gull chant
Baptised to gull chant
By trill of meadow pipit
By trill of meadow pipit
Rippling with trade of the past
Rippling with trade of the past
What stories are held?
What stories are held?
What tales trapped in its mudflats?
What tales trapped in its mudflats?
Reflection at River Park, Port Sunlight 10th August 2021
Reflection at River Park, Port Sunlight 10th August 2021
Judy Ugonna
Judy Ugonna
In the here and now
In the here and now
on this Third Rock,
on this Third Rock,
I bask in the benison
I bask in the benison
of a soft Northern sun
of a soft Northern sun
watching a wide river rippling.
watching a wide river rippling.
Inside … I am amazed!
Inside … I am amazed!
The magic of those first atoms!
The magic of those first atoms!
The moment beyond time
The moment beyond time
when hydrogen met oxygen,
when hydrogen met oxygen,
when vapour became ice and rain,
when vapour became ice and rain,
when lakes and rivers, and oceans
when lakes and rivers, and oceans
first covered this iron rock!
first covered this iron rock!
In the here and now,
In the here and now,
I myself mostly water
I myself mostly water
along with all the other creatures
along with all the other creatures
of this rock,
of this rock,
look out over waters here,
look out over waters here,
stand on meadows
stand on meadows
and among trees
and among trees
gifted by water and sunlight,
gifted by water and sunlight,
knowing they will give us
knowing they will give us
again and again
again and again
today’s blessings
today’s blessings
Pen to Paper Port Sunlight River Park/ Bromborough Dock
Pen to Paper Port Sunlight River Park/ Bromborough Dock
Maureen Weldon
Maureen Weldon
I see them writing lying on the grass in the sunshine – poets.
I see them writing lying on the grass in the sunshine – poets.
Our host Kemal takes us on a guided tour of his steep hill
Our host Kemal takes us on a guided tour of his steep hill
manmade with no shade this day.
manmade with no shade this day.
We look down on The River Mersey, “It’s coming in, the tide, he says,
We look down on The River Mersey, “It’s coming in, the tide, he says,
I know by the nautical stick. Do you see its wake?”
I know by the nautical stick. Do you see its wake?”
Liverpool Bay, its ships its cranes its Liver Birds, Cathedrals…
Liverpool Bay, its ships its cranes its Liver Birds, Cathedrals…
As we stand on this high rewilding hill,
As we stand on this high rewilding hill,
our host says, “See beneath us, that building, Prices Patent Candle Factory
our host says, “See beneath us, that building, Prices Patent Candle Factory
and nearby dock where ships unloaded cargos of Palm Oil.
and nearby dock where ships unloaded cargos of Palm Oil.
He tells us, when the wind blew, the smell
He tells us, when the wind blew, the smell
from the candle factory and nearby Tannery was neigh unbearable.
from the candle factory and nearby Tannery was neigh unbearable.
Now we join the poets, chat and enjoy a Poetry Picnic.
Now we join the poets, chat and enjoy a Poetry Picnic.
Landfill
Landfill
Chrissie Youngman
Chrissie Youngman
Under this ground
Under this ground
Voices echo from the past
Voices echo from the past
Surrounded by plastic, within layers of plastic
Surrounded by plastic, within layers of plastic
Plastic covering plastic
Plastic covering plastic
A memory – my child
A memory – my child
To remind you of your history
To remind you of your history
When everything we had was made of plastic.
When everything we had was made of plastic.
Today as the blowing grasses
Today as the blowing grasses
And billions of wild flowers brush against our feet
And billions of wild flowers brush against our feet
We see only God’s creation;
We see only God’s creation;
The crown of his glory covering our creation
The crown of his glory covering our creation
Of plastic, trapped beneath a mighty dome
Of plastic, trapped beneath a mighty dome
Of plastic.
Of plastic.
The gentle Teasel and Lady’s Bedstraw
The gentle Teasel and Lady’s Bedstraw
Belie the truth
Belie the truth
That far below a dead world lives.
That far below a dead world lives.
Not the underground metropolis of worms,
Not the underground metropolis of worms,
Or even our loved one’s bones.
Or even our loved one’s bones.
No, the dead world of vapours
No, the dead world of vapours
Oozes and seeps in methane gas
Oozes and seeps in methane gas
Far underneath our feet.
Far underneath our feet.
Not the lifegiving ooze of mud
Not the lifegiving ooze of mud
Under deep water
Under deep water
Or even silt, sticky from the river,
Or even silt, sticky from the river,
But hard man made obsolete towers.
But hard man made obsolete towers.
Useless towers of plastic
Useless towers of plastic
Unable to collapse, and
Unable to collapse, and
Unable to claim membership
Unable to claim membership
Of the great life force.
Of the great life force.
Somehow man attempted creation
Somehow man attempted creation
And the monster lies buried in methane
And the monster lies buried in methane
(Dead and buried – my child)
(Dead and buried – my child)
Sometimes when the great monster below
Sometimes when the great monster below
Breathes deeply
Breathes deeply
The methane is let out
The methane is let out
We say “in a controlled manner.”
We say “in a controlled manner.”
Perhaps it’s time to forget our blundering creative frenzies
Perhaps it’s time to forget our blundering creative frenzies
Before we blow ourselves up.
Before we blow ourselves up.
Let’s sit on a bench under the billowing sky
Let’s sit on a bench under the billowing sky
Catching sight of some mountains
Catching sight of some mountains
Superior to the plastic ones we make ourselves.
Superior to the plastic ones we make ourselves.
Look – quickly – there in the river
Look – quickly – there in the river
A porpoise – look, just there!
A porpoise – look, just there!
And another – joining us for the afternoon.
And another – joining us for the afternoon.
No Cats
No Cats
Chrissie Youngman
Chrissie Youngman
I have just been somewhere
I have just been somewhere
I’ve never been before
I’ve never been before
Where there are no cats.
Where there are no cats.
A particular and peculiar reclaimed place
A particular and peculiar reclaimed place
With no shiny eyes,
With no shiny eyes,
No fluffy tails,
No fluffy tails,
No digging in the flower beds,
No digging in the flower beds,
Or dead birds.
Or dead birds.
I saw no cats, not even one.
I saw no cats, not even one.
But there were birds……
But there were birds……
Curlews, with their long beaks deep in the mud,
Curlews, with their long beaks deep in the mud,
Oyster Catchers breaking into limpets,
Oyster Catchers breaking into limpets,
And I was informed,
And I was informed,
Officially informed, of the presence Of his eminence
Officially informed, of the presence Of his eminence
The Short-eared Owl.
The Short-eared Owl.
Skylarks were in full song above their nests
Skylarks were in full song above their nests
And the nests – what madness
And the nests – what madness
Their nests are on the ground!
Their nests are on the ground!
Obviously they, the skylarks,
Obviously they, the skylarks,
Have never heard of cats – bless ‘em.
Have never heard of cats – bless ‘em.
Slack Tide Below the Fever Hospital
Slack Tide Below the Fever Hospital
Chrissie Youngman
Chrissie Youngman
The river is full – but
The river is full – but
Is it flowing up river, or to the sea?
Is it flowing up river, or to the sea?
Does the water register the presence
Does the water register the presence
Of all the creatures passing through?
Of all the creatures passing through?
Are the cries of these creatures orchestrated
Are the cries of these creatures orchestrated
In the song of the waves?
In the song of the waves?
Do wild flowers, the clouds and waving grasses
Do wild flowers, the clouds and waving grasses
Sing together?
Sing together?
Maybe they do.
Maybe they do.
Do they hear our cries, as we hear music
Do they hear our cries, as we hear music
In the wind and waves?
In the wind and waves?
Every sound might have been registered
Every sound might have been registered
Around the river bank
Around the river bank
Below the Fever Hospital,
Below the Fever Hospital,
Or in the Fever Boats
Or in the Fever Boats
Lying with the dying in the river.
Lying with the dying in the river.
Water, waves and the cries of birds
Water, waves and the cries of birds
Embracing the dying,
Embracing the dying,
Holding their hearts in the wind.
Holding their hearts in the wind.
United just beforehand
United just beforehand
In that terrible moment of slack tide
In that terrible moment of slack tide
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