ABOUT THE BOOK
POEM: CHARACTER STUDY
She’s wise alright, this lady.
Hard, however. As she has to be.
Toughened, weathered, and when trodden on
Springs back behind the boot
And says nothing; keeps her wisdom
Clam-like on this sea-bed now
Shoved high above road and racket,
Wall and wailing siren.
The pelting fists of rain
As acid as it comes, can batter,
Winds can buffet, frosts do bite
And summer sunshine burns – But still she’ll tough it out,
And suddenly, late indeed,
When others shrink for cover,
Shrivel and curl in fear of future
She’s blushing, deep, all over.
Why?
It can’t be guilt, and if it’s shame
Then only out of empathy
With folk who’ve come, and gone on by
Pretending. Such as me.
Some of us said “Beautiful”. Oh dear,
That’s far too dull to hear
Above the bee-buzz.
This
Is heather.
Hot flush of mother earth
© Eddie Lawler, 1999
POEMS
Suddenly
Character Study
Inflation
Real Dream
Grow-Your-Own-Poem
Markers on the Elbe
Shipley Festival
Spellcheck
Saltaire Summer Saturday
Genesis
Eddie Plays the Town-Hall Organ
Les Ferrayes
Falling Over
Confession to St. Giles, Edinburgh
Peverse Poetry
Epithalamion
Dommage a Paul V.
Verwandschaft, August '99
Bio-Haiku
Skyscraper
Verdict
Celebration
Jumble Sale
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.
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