Monday, 30 June 2025

LIKE SWEPT CHIMNEYS... (My poem about the skyline at Coniston Water, Cumbria, 2012...)

 Like Swept Chimneys…

(Near Coniston Water, Cumbria, March 2012…)



Sprouting from summits

Of Lakeland fells,

Occasional sparse trees erupted,

Rather reminiscent of my dad’s chimney-sweeping brush

On dismal days

With fiendish father 

And moody mother,

Who wished to remain uninterrupted…


I would have been dispatched 

To watch for the emission

Of the spiky, tonsured, rattling rod,

Which triggered an exultant rush.

Then, swallowing my trepidation

I watched each screwed pole being meticulously 

detached

And, daring not to speak

As white dust sheets thrashed

Around the billowing, cascading soot,

The filthy bristles reappeared,

Keen, erect and dashing black,

To my reticent and fearful fascination… 


Pete Ray



Distant trees on the Lakeland fells skyline reminded me of my father sweeping the chimney at home when I was a child…

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.