Blackpool

BLACKPOOL

 

Blackpool is dying

Seasonally and less gracefully perhaps

Than a cancer victim

While derelict and otherwise decaying B and B’s

Ache no less   

Than the far too numerous

Tat and tattoo parlours

For the eventual return of the near extinct

Sea-food vendors cry

 

Yes, Blackpool is essentially dying

Less spectacularly perhaps

Than you’re common or garden murder victim

Un-yet its guts have been drawn and exposed, for the taking

Blackpool is most definitely dying

Where else in my 43^rd year might I search indefinitely    

For those sunny candy floss and vinegar scented days

Where frustrated parents, once tore their hair

And swapped first gentle nudges

And then, full blown kidney punches

For a towel sized portion of the Golden Mile?

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

Oh yes, the memories of going up the pool. To eat our mum's jam sarnies and to see our Auntie Flo. See Jethro Tull.
Been there, done that so often and bought the tee shirt so many times. Not been for a while though but even in my day the rot had set in. Such an evocative piece.

[Neville]

I was there so often during the turn of the century, the Imperial Hotel gave me a platinum card .. I used to facilitate workshops on the subject of clinical risk assessment & positive risk taking .. at the end of the day I would stroll about trying to clear my head and it was during that free time my childhood recollections were shattered .. Jethro Tull's Up the Pool kinda speaks for itself .. one of my fave bands and still going strong ... cheers sir Ken ... Neville

[Ken Simm.]

Perhaps you might then be interested in my latest post. He said cheekily. Except this is not Blackpoo as it use to called in Lancashire. This was Southport.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'Blackpool'
Neville,
We are all walking history books. In every face looking into another's eyes what lives in that soul. Your above narration set to memory and onto page was a joy to read. For this is personal for you. Times, days, moments all reaching and moving forward in memory. I walked with you in this piece of writing. I have become more interested in archeology and history at this time of my life and this poem marked all the boxes!
Blessings,
Kathy

[Neville]

wow .. I am so grateful that you took the time to locate Blackpool which was posted here ten years ago .. For the words you left here and for allowing mine to breathe again & see the sunshine, I really can not thank you enough dear Kathy :)

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Neville,
Here's hoping your keep giving us your experiences all wrapped in a wonderful writing bow!
Kathy

[Neville]

how kind of you to say such a thing Kathy .. I trust you know that your words are very much appreciated ................................. Neville :)

[Lorry]

Instant childhood flashback, to the golden mile, pleasure beach and tower, where you can watch them make blackpool rock and maybe be lucky enough to be given a piece, still warm and soft and chewy. To Mr and Mrs Gates, who ran the b&b we went to for years, and ultimately, revisiting as an adult and seeong a childhood friend grow old and crumble.
Such a sad sight to see, especially when it held such vivid memories of youth.
A wonderful piece my friend. Now im wondering if its still 20p for a donkey ride :)

[Neville]

I am truly honoured my friend and for several reasons.. tis very sad indeed, but not the only place in such a dreadful state of decline... Now ya got me wondering too...cheers N

[Lorry]

Very true. We used to go days out to helensburgh on sundays and it looks like the film set for the walking dead these days.

[Neville]

makes ya wanna weep..

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I haven’t seen Blackpool so I’m not very well equipped to comment on the things mentioned here Neville. What I could sense was the regret felt for the decaying town. Sadly, this decay has been quite universal and not enough is being done for preserving the essence of worthwhile places. The concluding lines were great and made me smile!

[Neville]

You are quite right.. again, but you aint missing anything here.. smile on my friend..

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Oh yes... I love smiling! Feels good, looks good too 😺

[Neville]

I bet it does, hey.. you aint from Cheshire are ya :)

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Oh no Neville! An Indian cat am I ;)
Cheshire sounds exotic though! 😺

[Neville]

not a tiger then..... everything is relative innit, Cheshire or parts of it are a bit posh..

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I’ve heard of Cheshire cats :)

[Neville]

now ya got me grinning from ear to ear.... :)

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Aha! I’ve heard of the famous grin :)

[Neville]

got there in the end... :)

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I’m feeling clever now (grins some more 😸)

[Neville]

just you be careful...

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Ok...goes quietly... ;)

[Neville]

catch ya later...

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Waves...of course! :)

[Neville]

.........:)

[Verse]

You realize that you’ve done something I’ve only ever seen Proust do well... you’ve sung the song for a dying time, and assigned it a fragrance. In Proust’s case, the scent of lilacs, and here a chip and some candy floss. Takes me right back to my childhood!!! :):)

Lovely comparisons and a sweet verse, Neville!

V

[Neville]

Cor missus, that'll do nicely.. very nicely indeed, Proust eh'.. upon my very word, I thank thee... N

[Verse]

Hahaha! Thou art most welcomed!!! :):)

V

[Neville]

thy will be done then & verily... :) N

[emmajoy]

This is as near as a eulogy could be for a town... wonderfully written, full of so many emotions but sad as heck, '.. Blackpool is dying - Seasonally and less gracefully perhaps - Than .. '

So many places have lost that brightly lit upside-downess that places had in the UK years ago. Lack of investment in the irreverent past.. plus, too many so.called sophisticated ten day holidays' abroad have altered our thinking about what was/is essentially British.. English! I went to Blackpool once with a granny and two cousins, thought it was noisy but just like Cinderella's ball must have been like.. daft kid that i was! What i'd like to know is, do you regret it's crumbling, Neville? Do you miss candy floss, chips with lots of salt-n'-vinegar and gawping at the gawdy wonderment of the Golden Mile?!

[Neville]

Hello emmajoy.. thank you for visiting 'Blackpool'..and thank you too for sharing some of your early perceptions and more recent insights... yes, it is a crying shame that what once was a popular, proud and very English seaside resort appears to be dying.. Love proper fish n chips with loads of salt n vinegar, never liked candy floss.. have always been a people watcher... no, I never miss the Golden Mile.. there are nicer and more civilized places nearby.... N

[barleygirl]

I love this poem. There are so many favorite places in life that are dying . . . a way of life is dying, one could say. Your poem helps us get a strong feeling for this place, both before & now. I love the reference to your 43rd year . . . piquing our imaginations with a somewhat opaque reference . . . and then spilling out more details to paint remembered scenes and yet leaving us guessing what exactly that 43rd year means to you (((NUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

Cheers me dear.. yes.. tis a real shame that some things, indeed everything changes... don't you ever change tho, or I would be cross... maybe one day I will tell ya about 43... maybe... N

[Ana Papaya]

I've never been and admittedly only learned of it through your poem but can relate to the slow death of a place. A city or town, maybe an attraction. That perhaps was once more beautiful than it is now. Or holds beautiful memories that when you return don't measure up.

[Neville]

Thank you Ana for your very welcome and most reasoned of reviews, you just hit the nail on its proverbial head.... AGT's.. N

[Ana Papaya]

You're welcome. AGTs...
~A~

[Neville]

........... :) ~N~

[Lydia Shutter]

A resort town gone bad....we have them in the USA as well. Somehow the memories you made there as a child turn tawdry and you begin to think that maybe you used to see the world differently. Truth is, places do change. T'is a shame, but true. Your nostalgia is strong here. Sorry a place you loved to love has changed so very much. Good write. LydI**

[Neville]

Thank you Lydi** for what is essentially a much appreciated and insightful viewpoint and comments... Nx

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for taking me to Blackpool, Neville. I had to google to find out more ...the pics look pretty nice actually ... but it sounds a lot like what happens to far too many places of history and alleged elegance ...graphic imaging sir ... i felt the pull and tug-o-war of nostalgic revelings and disgust ;) i especially love your closing with the nudges to punches of frustrated parents ...fighting for that "spot" ... way too human and relatable ;(
E.
ps. i almost didn't recognize you with the new avatar ... hope all is well

[Neville]

Bless ya brother, am truly appreciative of any and all visits from you... unfortunately, it is much like I described... got a few things going on at the moment.. glad you found me.. take care and will catch up soon maybe..... Neville