ramblings and things

1,302,101 poems read

Through the lock gates
Landing with the tide
Fast Black waiting
At the dock side
Had a good trip
Don't know what I'll get
But I'm sure i've not
Again landed in debt.

Powder blue suit
Bell bottom trews
Slim Jim tie
Brothel creeper shoes
Few pints at Rayners
A few more up town
Belly to the bar
No time to sit down.

Three Day Millionaires
Pockets all a jingle
Just three days
To socialise and mingle
Chatting up the birds
No real time to flirt
Can't beat a pint with
Arm round a bit of skirt

A few more hours
Then back at sea
A Fisherman's life
That's the life for me
On a sidewinder
Some times not so nice
Fighting the weather
Fighting the ice.

Thinking of the bundle
I hope I'll have made
Thinking of the booze
And of getting laid
Through the lock gates
Landing with the tide
Fast Black waiting
At the dock side.

Big Boating - deep sea fishing up in the Arctic
Fast Black- Taxi. from Hackney Carriage
Settling in debt - if fish prices were low a deckie could owe the Company money
Three Day Millionaires - the usual time between trips
Trip - time away fishing

With thanks to Dr Alec Gill whose histories of the fishing industry and Hessle Road have inspired some of my work. Keep it up Alec


Comment On This Poem --- Vote for this poem
Big Boatin` Blues (revised)