A palate of clouds and light over the bay
but I’m glad I took you anyway
I hadn’t been for such a long time
and the way the sun played on the sands: sublime
the stone jetty with its tongue-twisters,
the unpretentious tea shop where we sheltered
then when we came out, how the grey clouds parted
to reveal the hills!
Glory days! And the Circus was in town,
right on the spot where I’d played in the pool
as a child. Now, childhood and the pool long gone
outside the tent, the families formed a queue
you asked, ‘Why don’t we go?’ and I could find
no reasonable answer.
Inside the Big Top, I’m a child again
watching the artists flying the trapeze
slicing the air with acrobatic ease,
and I’d like to do the same with words:
this is how it feels to be free
with no risk of breaking my neck, except
perhaps, metaphorically.
Next, we found the Eric Morecambe statue
where we struck a pose:
there’s something about the gesture and the day
which implores such gay abandon from us
and I sent you a postcard about all of this
but it hasn’t reached you yet
so just in case you never get it
you can have these words instead:
I am older and I’m wiser now,
the former, by one day
the latter, it seems, immeasurably
through simple lessons gifted to me by
my children.
© 2022 experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
A poem about a day trip to Morecambe
A seaside town in Lancashire, and birthplace of Eric Morecambe (one half of the comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise), Morecambe has perhaps seen better days. But I couldn’t have wished for a day much better than this!
I will be linking up to dVerse, where tonight is Open Link Night Live: from 3pm ET, you can link up any poem, and for the first hour you can join us live to read your poem and listen to others. Hope to see you there…
I’ve lovely memories of my one and only day trip to Morecambe
🤩 we used to go there every summer when I was a kid!
Remember being taken there as a child. Blackpool’s poor relation. Ugh. I expect it would be far better through adult eyes, far more just to soak up.
Oh, I miss Frontierland!
What ever happened to Mr BlobbyLand?
I don’t remember that one 😅
Noel Beardface bought Happy Mount park at Morecambe and turned it into Blobbyland!
I remember it as Frontierland!
No, Frontierland was further on near the West End. This was as you come in from Hest Bank. frontierland was brilliant. My kids have spent many a happy hour there. Blobbyland was a rip-off though. It didn’t last long.
Yeah, Frontierland was great – owned by the same family as Blackpool Pleasure Beach but I think they decided to pump all their money into that!
👍 I never knew that it was the same owners.
Great photo! It seems you had a great time!
We did, thanks Punam 😊
You are so welcome. 😊
I’ve never heard of Morecambe or Eric Morecambe. I saw this photo when you posted it on IG, and it’s wonderful. You can tell it’s from a fun day. Your words are so descriptive.
I did wonder if they’d made it over the Atlantic 😅 Morecambe and Wise are something of a British institution!
That’s what I gathered, but I don’t know them.
Such a wonderful poem Ingrid!
Thank you Gabriela 🙏
My pleasure.
What a great photo and poem–pure joy is a precious commodity. (K)
Thank you: I realise that and try to make the most of it!
A delightful read, Ingrid. I am so glad you seized the day! Moments that make life worth living… and writing about. ✍🏻💖
They do indeed! Thank you Michele 💕
I remember going to a visiting circus here in Trinidad and was fascinated by the elephant above everthing else
Enjoyed hearing your poem read
Much💚love
Thank you Gillena! This one had no animals, but it was certainly memorable 😊
The title alone brings me sunshine…
May it follow you all the while 🌞
A delightful bit f nostalgia. While I’ve never been to that place, I’ve been to a few like it. Well written.
Thank you! 😊
I just love the imagery and experience of this piece; I find it utterly alive!
Thank you, Jaya: that’s the kind of day it was!
What a lovely day you have described here, Ingrid, and things coming full circle. The musings of the wiser self. I very much enjoyed this 🙂
Thank you Sunra 😊
“lessons gifted to us by our children”–love it. I remember after watching Hugh Laurie all the Seasons on HOUSE, it was a shock to find out that Laurie is part of a comedy duo in UK as well. Miss me some Circus.
Oh yes – Fry and Laurie were very popular. Hugh Laurie was also hilarious in a comedy show called Blackadder…
Ingrid I feel nostalgia for the place and time you describe and was not even there!…. the unpretentious tea shop where we sheltered…we all have that wonderful sheltered memory…!
Thank goodness!
I coud feel your excitement, and that of your children, and it certainly came through in your reading.
Yes, it was only last weekend so the memories are fresh! Thanks Ken.
It feels wonderful to read about your adventure, it feels so wholesome and innocent and I love the smiles on the accompanying photograph.
Thank you so much 😊
I absolutely love, love this! Especially; ” I’m a child again watching the artists flying the trapeze slicing the air with acrobatic ease, and I’d like to do the same with words: this is how it feels to be free.” It was a joy to hear you read this tonight 💝💝
I am glad you enjoyed this, Sanaa, thank you! 💖
Ingrid, this poem is so beautiful and joyful! It touched my heart! You are creating wonderful memories with your children and learning from each other. Childhood passes quickly, but the memories remain! <3
Thank you Cheryl 🥰
Cute pic and fun poem. I’m glad you had a chance to share it with the kids.
Thank you Lisa!
You’re welcome.
Wonderful description of a day at the seaside, Ingrid. I always think good poems are all about tone and you hit it perfectly here. I also remember Morecambe and Wise , I was a big fan as a kid! JIM
Thank you Kindly JIM!
Reminds me of going to the circus as a child, and the ending is so true. Wisdom does come though to parents from children. Great poem, Ingrid.
Thank you Jeff 🙏
I love your poem, Ingrid. And I enjoyed hearing you read it on the live show. Your kids are precious on the photo.. Well done.
Thanks Dwight 😊
You are welcome!
Making memories with the ones you love is the best of life. A great photo!
Thank you Ali 🙏
This was a lovely moment captured in words as they played across the page. I think we all need to remember what it feels like to be a child again. Remembering what it feels like to be free…
It’s important to at least try 😊
A lovely memory to share.
Thank you 🙏
Some memories live on and on in us, in a good way. Sounds like this will be one of them.
I hope it will 😊
What a fun time! Your verses celebrate the moment so well!
Thank you Tricia 😊
💓
It is wonderful when our children take us back to our own childhood and teach us how to be young again.
What fun you brought to your children and got to relive again Ingrid!
Love your poem and your sharing that great video! Sooo happy you had fun! 💖🌻
Thanks Cindy: we always do 🥰
💖💖🙏😘🌈🌟🌟
So much fun, and I absolutely loved hearing you read it live. The circus especially felt close to something I would wish to see…
Glad you enjoyed this Björn!
This is a delight. Made me smile for the memories that we all share to one degree or another. And the children. Needed that.
I am glad you enjoyed it Colleen 😊
Lovely nostalgic poem🙂
Thank you!
Very beautifully written ❤🌹
Thank you 🙏