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Sunday, August 19, 2012

Real Toads: photos by Scriptor Senex

The blogger known as Scriptor Senex is an excellent Liverpool photographer named John Edwards. He has offered some of his photos for the online writers' group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads to use as inspiration for a poem on Kerry's Sunday Mini-Challenge.

I haven't spent much time in Liverpool, but I liked what I did see, and John's photo called Liverpool Sky spoke to me this weekend.

Liverpool Sky
© John Edwards

LIVERPOOL SKY
by Kay L. Davies, August, 2012
  
Liverpool sky
I do wonder why
this glorious hue
happens so few
times in one human life...
*
Liverpool skies
have seen eight hundred years
of human lifetimes...
from the time of King John
through generations
of Liverpudlians.
*  
Yes, fans, Liverpool was there
before the Beatles were,
and is still there today.
*  
From the Atlantic
and the Irish Sea,
up the Mersey
and out again,
shipping has gone on
for hundreds of years.
No one speaks now
of Liverpool’s part
in the slave trade
but isn’t it odd
that it has Britain’s
largest African population?
If my ancestors
had been slaves,
I’d avoid the place
like the plague.
*
Liverpool sky,
the things it has seen,
we might not want
to dream of.
But Beatlemaniacs
will dream of John and George,
and hope to see Paul or Ringo.


9 comments:

hedgewitch said...

A fascinating place, you make it sound. Old port cities all over the world have so much history, and prehistory, behind them we never realize. Enjoyed it, Kay.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Even for those who have never been to Liverpool, such as I, it holds an undeniable charm.

Maude Lynn said...

I enjoyed this very much!

Carola Bartz said...

Great poem, Kay - of course when I read "Liverpool" I immediately had to think of the Beatles. I can understand why you like this particular photo, it is gorgeous.

Susie Clevenger said...

A wonderful poem...I was in Jr. High when the Beatles hit the scene..I love them, but I also want to know more about Liverpool than four guys who sang.

Marian said...

yes, charming, this little piece is. a lovely tribute.

Grace said...

Lovely painting of the Liverpool sky....I would avoid it too if there have been slaves ..and Beatlemania rocks the place ~

Hannah said...

Yes, this image is great in the stark contrast of spires to sky... Well written and I learned a bit, too!

Scriptor Senex said...

Thanks, Kay. Interestingly Liverpool has recently established a museum of slavery. I woud recommend visitors and residents ailke to go there. It is an impressive acknowledgement of the city's history and the cultures of those who were enslaved.