Blackpool, October

 

Horizontal icy rain

Driving into my face like

Spiked, javelin needles

Forcing me to close my eyes;

Icy rigor mortis cheeks.

 

Silvered ring of carriage horse,

Steel edged feet on sea-front road

Cut through the cacophony -

Jumbled electrical din

Of slot machine Alcatraz.

 

Noisome smells of overused,

Unclean burger fat deposits -

Pallid pink-ish hotdogs float

Unhygenically in

Hotly stewing bile water.

 

Donkeys on the beach - Truffle,

Velvet, Tweedy and Tizer;

Bells ring on loose neck collars,

Nameplates shine on bright harness -

Crescent feet dimple the sand.

 

South Pier levitates above

Disturbed sea – spindly supports

Like spiders legs. Distant screams

From roller-coaster riders,

Trusting in fragile structure.

 

Boarded up guest houses line

Evening promenade. Cafes

Full of fish and chip eaters

Glad of some shelter from wind -

Mug of strong tea; mushy peas.

 

Ripped, faded red velvet seats

On gold balcony suspend

Us above Tower Ballroom –

Organ swells, suspends the turns

Of George and Brenda’s quickstep.

 

Illuminations compete

For my attention, kitschy

Mermaids, spacemen, Basil Brush;

Trams disguised as boat and train

Spangled with bright coloured bulbs.

 

Dusty gift shops, side by side

Stacked with endless piles of crap.

Soiled souvenirs, broken rock;

Penis shaped sugar dummies -

Perfect gift for those back home.