A Poem by Jack Glenny...Greenock That Was

GREENOCK THAT WAS. THIS IS NOT A LETTER, BUT YOU'RE FROM GREENOCK AND YOU MUST READ THIS, DONT REMEMBER IT ALL BUT MOST OF IT I DO!

Brings a tear to a glass eye.................. GREENOCK THAT WAS By Jack Glenny Time passes so quickly there’s a lot left behind That I must record before it’s out of my mind One hundred and one little thoughts of the past Dear to my heart from the first to the last What of the town that once used to be? What of the people who lived there with me? I remember the smoke from the hospital lum The Morton’s two players called Divers and Crum The misshapen stairs in my granny’s wee close The piggery corner where you aye held your nose The horses that struggled to climb Lynedoch Street The Tail of the Bank with the American Fleet Scott’s horn that sounded at twenty to eight The mad clatter of feet as men poured in the gate Dunlop’s busses to Largs, Ritchie’s wee ferry Anderson shelters to hide frae the jerry The man wi’ the bell that sold the “soor dook” Fishing for trout wi’ a pin for a hook Nights in cauld winter playing “ring, bang and scoosh” The minister’s car that aye needed a push Enders of loaf, a big tattie scone The Home and Colonial, McKenzie the pawn A run on your bike tae the Battery Baths Big Mick in school that once taught me maths The market in High Street, Sugarhouse Lane Princes Pier station for the Kilmacolm train The mill lassies’ giggles as homeward they go Doon Drumfrochar Road past Cotton Mill Row The sugarhouse steam, the Oil and Cake Mill The Dandy, the Beano and Buffalo Bill Tinkers wi’ heather and tartan shawled weans The strange disappearance of the toon’s civic chains Climbin’ gas lamps at the fit o’ the street Big Ginger the police wi’ kipper box feet The jawbox, the dunny, peevers and tig Picnics in summer at the Auld Roman Brig Black and white tellys and Jimmy Dow plays The boy in your class wi’ the second hand claes The wan-legged busker in Inverkip Street ABC Minors, the Sunday School treat Baggy minnows in jaurs frae the Murdieston Dam The Co-op’s machine for slicing the ham Tugs and destroyers, new ships on the stocks James Watt, Victoria, East India docks Tobacco, bananas, sugar and oil “Keek Duffy”,”The Wolf” and “Auld Puchle Coyle” Brick baffle walls at the mouth of the close Chips oot o’ Cello’s, coffee from Joe’s Edmiston’s pies an’ Kennedy’s breid The night that we heard that Ghandi was deid There were places and things not heard of today Serpantine Walk and Bubbly Jock’s Brae The Vennel, The Bogle and Baron Baillie’s Hoose National Dried Milk and free orange juice Coppersmiths, loftsmen and riveters’ mates Holeborers, drillers and builders of grates Chimney sweeps, leeries, all passed away Historical trades of our town yesterday The man wi’ wan arm, they all called him Willie Stood at West Station and sold ye the “Tele” McIntyre’s horses and Duncan Street stables Rossini’s cafe wi’ marble topped tables Initials that bring back memories to me R.N.T.F. and T double E Clippies on busses wi’ “Seats up the sterr” The man that sold nylons at “Five bob a perr” Woolworths and Markies in Hamilton Street The corner at Burtons where the young bloods all meet Gilchrist and Prentice’s, Bennett’s, Mackay’s Crawford’s the place for your soup, beans and pies This was the Greenock I knew as a boy Vibrant and lively, bubbling with joy It’ll never return, good thing seldom do But I’m glad that I saw it, does the same go for you? ...................................