New Poem based on The Letters

Father, Skating, 1923

 

Lean into the wind father

let skates speed you

across frozen pond

in this harsh winter of 1923

when pits are thick with ice

and all you care about

is learning to go on two skates

those home-made blades

carrying you in a hard-won glide

into a back spin as you show off

your new found skills. No-one

taught you or held your hand

helped you up when you fell

time after time, except yourself.

Enjoy your triumph, Dad,

for all too soon your childhood

will crash to its ending.

For now you’re just a boy

who buys a clockwork engine

with carefully totted tips.

All too soon you’ll be a man

at twelve years old, handing

pay over to keep family fed,

your mother ill in bed,

your father given up to drink,

the young ones arguing.

Skate on, enjoy the free flow

as your blades whistle on ice.

It’s not yet time to go in from play.

My Father’s Letter

This is as he wrote it with his errors preserved.

Dear Frances

Just a few lines to tell you for ther’s not much doing.

On Saturday morning I went to the Brickfield to skate. I could go on one, but now I can go on two.

Our pits are thick with ice. Jim Smith and I are pals. On Monday noon Jim and I went to the pond to skate.

Every dinner time I go to skate.

Sunday morning Vincent and I went to the pond. When we got there Jim, Fenny, our Willie, etc. etc.

When I go to school at play-time I go in goal for Farnworth team. We have won every game this week.

Now I finish at S. Bridge’s at 5 o’clock on Thursday.

Thursday night at 7.30 pm Father, Vincent and I went to a lecture on animals by Mr Rev James Woolfe.

I was interested all the night.

Vincent and I started out t. 10-10 pm for dad had not reached home.

Half way down the lane we met him he told us to go to Grandma’s till he came there.

Grandmar gave us a penny and a Rosy Apple. which we ate in the room.

When I was coming home I saw Mrs Beardmore with his wife.

We came home the the Houseing Scheme.

I have not got a tip of any kind yet.

I hope you read Vincent’s finish and I am sure you was surprised at the paino.

I have started to get two comices each week now.

That are called “Golden Penny Comice” and Jester

From your loving Brother

Peter xxxxxx

This my dad on his wedding photo, two months after the wedding.