{"id":1204,"date":"2012-10-09T09:10:53","date_gmt":"2012-10-09T08:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=1204"},"modified":"2012-10-09T09:10:53","modified_gmt":"2012-10-09T08:10:53","slug":"the-past-is-all-he-has","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=1204","title":{"rendered":"The Past Is All He Has"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another fine little poem by regular contributor, Charlie Freel.\u00a0 Judging by all his previous poems I feel it is time that Charlie compiled them into\u00a0a book.\u00a0 This is just the latest in the line of many excellent pieces.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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He stands on the same aul street corner, where his fathers had stood years before,<\/p>\n

Recounting past glories of far better days, about the sash that his fathers had wore.<\/p>\n

There were pubs then on every street corner, a bookies and chippie next door,<\/p>\n

The pride of the East was Glentoran, so why would he want anymore?<\/p>\n

But the Oval now sits nearly empty and its sad to admit, but it\u2019s true,<\/p>\n

Depression\u2019s the scourge of the East now, instead of them hallions in blue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Down Mersy Street, sat Gallaghers factory, the producers of Gallaghers blues,<\/p>\n

Willy Woodbine was made on the Castlereagh Road, close by, the tool factory of Hughes.<\/p>\n

Apprentices now are a thing of the past, as is working your way up, to the top,<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve not got an \u201c A \u201c Star In everything else, common sense is considered a flop.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cranes in the shipyards lay idle, the slipways are launching no more,<\/p>\n

The ropeworks supplying its ropes to the World, has long ago bolted its doors,<\/p>\n

But \u00a0he\u2019s still got his flag, and he\u2019s still got his drum, and he\u2019ll march till his feet they turn blue,<\/p>\n

Because the past is all that holds meaning, when your future depends on the bureau.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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