urbanglasgow.co.uk

Alex Glass · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject: A GLESCA WEAN

A GLESCA WEAN
by Cathleen Sweeney

Ah wis born an bred in Glesca,
Aye, Glesca is ma hame,
Bein' brought up in a tenement
Made me a typical wean.

We didnae hiv much money
So ma mammy went oot tae work
An' when Ah hid oan ma Sunday claes
Ah dareny play in the durt.

Ah didnae hiv very many toys
Like the weans a, hiv the day,
Ma pals were happy girls an, boys
Wi lots o' games tae play.
We played at ,cowboys an, indians,
We played at ,hide an, seek, ,
When we counted tae 100 nice an, fast
An' ye wirnae allowed tae peek.

Then we,d tie some string through two
tin cans
An' we,d put them oan oor feet
An' stomp like something frae outer
space
Right up an, doon oor street.
There wis ,doublers, ,ropes, an kick the
can,
We played 'rounders, roon the back
Then we'd sit oan toap o' the midden
Tellin' ghost stories till it goat dark.

We'd walk tae the Pictures Matinee
Oan a Setterday afternoon,
Where a man came oot tae make us
a'sing
An wave hankies in time tae the tune.
We booed an, cheered at the Westerns,
The Three Stoogies made us a, laugh,
Then came the cartoons - Mickey Mouse an, Popeye -
Tae make up the hours an, a half

We ate toffee apples an,candy cakes
An chewed oan liquorice sticks,
Soor plooms that pul't yir jaws right in,
Dry wafers - a penny for six.
We read the Beano an, Dandy,
Oor Wullie an' The Broons,
We even hid back court concerts,
Tap dancin, tae popular tunes.

In this rhyme Ah,ve tried tae turn back
the clock
Tae aboot forty-odd years ago,
Tae paint a picture o, whit life wis like
For a wean in old Glasgow.
When there wisnae a word like junkie
An naebody that Ah knew sniffed glue,
Today Ah jist cannae help thinkin,-
Whit,s happenin,tae Glesca weans noo?
_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

tombro · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:13 am Post subject:

Brilliant poem, Alex !

I might have left in 1960 but my memories are vivid and this wee poem brings them right out into the open again !

Regards,
Tombro

_________________
Today is the first day of the rest of your life !

wee minx · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

I was reading about myself there...brilliant

_________________
Am a Wee Glasgow Bissom ye know! :)

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

Doorstop · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject:

I've skimmed over this without noticing it and I have to apologise for that.

Sterling work Alex mate, highly connotative and impressionistic .. I can just about close my eyes and see my childhood playmates.

Brilliant .. t.t.v.g.g.s.
_________________
*If you're not on the list .. you're not gettin' in*

Alex Glass · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

It would be good if anyone had some old photo images to go with this little poem

Any offers

_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr