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The Sermon of Reverend Collier

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Drumming across windows
In both of the toilets
Banging could frequently be heard
Dragging chairs under the stairs
In the entrance hall

Thawed in the cheesy music
Leading to the main bar
Twitching across your back
Like a whistle blower
Drowned out by the noise

Over the sticky floors
And watered down lager
Curving into a maze of bodies
Aglow in a series of frantic lights
Sweeping diamonds in their dreams

Caged with the TV Screen
Dangling half drunk from the ceiling
Scrunched with a frightening rage
Held back by invisible hands
Wishing for the carnage to end

Over the top of a sign that always said
Drinking, dancing, cavorting
While the revernd sits there unseen
Constantly spitting feathers
Throwing toilet paper in the air

And attempting to push staff
Down the stairs as if to say
They weren’t getting out of there
Anywhere near quick enough
For his liking.


(Brannigans  is a now closed Bar in the centre of Manchester which was reportingly haunted by Reverend Collier, a fierce anti alcohol revernald at the start of the 20th Century of which his church, Albert Halls became Brannigans at one point).

◄ Card Story (A Christmas Poem)

Ghost story II - Prologue ►

Comments

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Andy N

Tue 27th Jan 2015 22:44

thanks Cynthia and Laura. Stunned by your praise in a good way. thank you both so so much for this.

this is a piece as i said before has been in the back of my head for a few years and i enjoyed writing it big style.

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Laura Taylor

Tue 27th Jan 2015 14:04

Absolutely fantastic Andy - you should be well proud of this one!

The syntax is incredible. Reckon this is the best one I've read by you so far.

The chaos of the room is totally re-created and re-presented here - marvellous stuff!

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Tue 27th Jan 2015 11:37

Terrific poem, Andy. Such a command of language and craft, to create 'theatre'; the atmosphere sizzles along and then trips lightly into your two-stanza ending with farcical humour. IMO, really,really good.

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Andy N

Thu 22nd Jan 2015 12:49

Thanks Preeti and Martin. This has been a poem that has been in the back of mind for a few years now and am glad i am now able to share it with you all.

Thanks for your comments.

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Martin Elder

Wed 21st Jan 2015 23:25

I remember this one from last Monday and it reads as well on paper as when you read it out. Nice one

Preeti Sinha

Wed 21st Jan 2015 16:22

Fascinating!

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