ABOUT THE BOOK
Eddie's days as a student were spent at at Keele University when the M6 was under construction. On a visit to his Alma Mater, he wrote this poem.
By the Motorway
These trees and fields which owned the valley
Till ‘dozers ripped their peace apart
Ask me straight: “When does this racket
Ever, ever stop?” “Only”, I must confess
“When the world goes deaf.”
Suddenly
We’ve wrought the oracle
Our wish at least half-true – Though packed from end to end with lots
Of giant coloured boxes
The carriageway is quiet
Fields hold their breath
Trees turn their heads
And I do both, and wonder ….
Within a blue-light flash
We all know why – We sigh, and realise
The twist within the sorry tale
As told in modern days:
The siren’s song is heard OK –
But not till after
The catastrophe
© Eddie Lawler, 1999
Poems
After the Darkened Days
A Season on Stage
Presents
Head for Heights
Friedrichsdorf at Easter
Here and Now
Mount Grace, June
Autobituary
Performance Poem
By the Motorway
Viewer in the Middle
Seaside Entertainment
Spoilsport
Queue for a Poem
The Polystyrene Cup Confides
Weathered
Fairy Tale
Something and Nothing
Name of the Game
Diagnosis
Account
Stoneyard
In Calder Valley
Postcards
Shorts and Sweets
Eddie Lawler's music and writing feature strongly in the lives of people living in Saltaire. Eddie lives a stone's throw away from Victoria Hall where his play, Saltairy Tales has been performed during the past two Saltaire Festivals. His music and poetry combine Yorkshire wit with serious social comment. |
