Mike Jenkins - Welsh Poet & Author
  • Mike's Blog
  • New Book!
  • About Mike
  • Contact
  • What's the point?
  • The Climbing Tree
  • The Fugitive Three
  • Publications
  • Red Poets

THE TOWN OF LEAVING

3/14/2010

0 Comments

 
   When the PCS were on strike last week I was immensely proud of the Labour and Plaid Cymru AM's, all of whom refused to cross the picket lines at the Senedd. A number joined those pickets outside the building and politicians like Plaid's Leanne Wood were vociferous in their support for the striking civil servants. Coverage from the London-based media was typically negligible : it probably needs another bull on the rampage in Tenby for Wyre Davies to get air time there!

   For anyone who still doubts any claims of a pale pink ditch (though not 'clear red water') this was the answer. Can you imagine a similar scenario at Westminster? Can you envisage a day when the Government refuses to function because of their outright support for many of the poorest workers in our society whose jobs and redundancy rights are seriously threatened? Brown and his hatchetmen are far more likely to appease the bankers.

   While the Senedd was closed for business, Tory and Lib Dem AM's acted like 'scabs', crossing the picket lines and decrying the actions of the Coalition. For all the posturing from Cable and Clegg (who sound like a failed 70's folk-rock duo) at their Conference, the present situation brought out the true nature of their position. You'd expect Tories to behave in such a way, but Lib Dem's exposed the fact they are a middle-class party, which has no place for working-class solidarity and extra-parliamentary action.

   These vicious cuts - designed to solve a public debt crisis brought on by banks de-regulated under Thatcher and Blair - will be fought and , hopefully defeated by precisely the very means the Lib Dem's so readily reject. As with past struggles like the anti-poll tax movement, they have no solution and no involvement. Even in the mass movement against the war in Iraq, they shifted their position without any heed to idealism : from outright opposition to 'support for the boys'.

   Everyone I've talked to in the public services refers to the distinct possibility of impending cuts ( and this before an election). Teachers talk about the possibility of compulsory redundancies and certainly, many who leave the profession are not being replaced. The Schools' Library Service - which performs such a great job connecting young people to writers, books and reading - is also under threat of the axe.

   The stark reality of the recession was again brought home to me last weekend, when I visited Caergybi (Holyhead) at the northern tip of Cymru.
When I say that this town made even Merthyr seem quite well off, I'm not exaggerating.

   Holyhead is a town devastated by the economic situation in every way : it seems like Depression not recession has hit it.  Numerous shops were empty and many buildings were either falling into dilapidation or were derelict. There was an atmosphere of hopelessness on an incongruously bright day which intimated Spring.

   It was the first thing the taxi-driver talked to me about, without any prompting. He was deeply saddened by the town's plight and told me of the many employers who'd left, including Anglesey Aluminium quite recently. I could understand why a new nuclear power station was seen as essential, even though I wished for so many other alternatives.

   It's a place which deserves them. It would be wonderful if people stopped here en route to or from Ireland to savour the town, like the port of Roscoff in Brittany. I dream of a haven for sustainable industries, local crafts and galleries where the spirit of the arts centre at Ucheldre permeates the town. We desperately need a Senedd with enough economic powers to carry out these.


                             THE TOWN OF LEAVING

In the town of leaving
trawlers are flying white flags,
anticipating their owners.

The young skateboarders
yell and roll down the high street
towards the ferry port and another nation.

In the town of leaving
shops hang onto their signs,
their windows bricks or roller-blinds.

Jets from a Camp nearby
tattoo the sky, making lines
like borders as they fly.

In the town of leaving
the road terminates at a promenade
with no beach, sea with no stirring.

Paint from buildings is flaking and blowing
away across the island grasslands :
salt-winds lick walls and ceilings.

In the town of leaving
visitors step from boat to train
oblivious to the last person, frantically waving.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.



    Archives

    November 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from johnharveypegg, Dai Lygad, joncandy, victoriapeckham, David Holt London, aeneastudio, fromthevalleys-, Metro Centric, andymag, David Bergin Photography, villunderlondon, @markheybo, joncandy, Martin Pettitt, Between the Shadows, joncandy, johnkell, olivia.barrie, villunderlondon, Lake Worth, MittenStatePhototog, frankieleon, robynejay, joncandy, mcaretaker, Thomas Leuthard, Knight Foundation, joncandy, Joybot, brownpau, Iburiedpaul, villunderlondon, amit_gaur, abegum, simonw92, beeveephoto, Aislinn Ritchie, Shannon Green Photography, joncandy, Nick J Webb, Vish Menon, AberCJ, gcoldironjr2003, joncandy, World Can't Wait, jonl1973, Watt_Dabney, petejam70, Kerndav, MJ Klaver, joncandy, Daquella manera, spratt504, joncandy, ashleigh290, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., afanatochka, r.nial.bradshaw, themendingnews, rikkis_refuge, Matthew Straubmuller, joncandy, onnola, final gather, funktionhouse, marioanima, joncandy, Dai Lygad, joncandy, Guttorm Flatabø, brittreints, garryknight, villunderlondon, wonker, Martin Pettitt, joncandy, tnarik, AJC1, simonw92, wardyboy400, joncandy, Bombardier, joncandy, Cargo Cult, joncandy, joncandy, SeanOConnor2010, Feral78, comedy_nose, Abode of Chaos, mkairishstudies, joncandy, avail, Jörg Weingrill, Gwydion M. Williams, Leshaines123, KiltBear, eisenbahner, Capt' Gorgeous, Francis Storr, New Chemical History, Matthew Black, jc.winkler, Gwenael Kere, Karen Roe