Mullins Yard

............. a little bit o Somerset.. its not just about apples n cider

 Mullins Yard

 

Where are they now

Them

Old Parrett Flatner’s

Those workhorse

Those wetlands

Those one-time  

Wooden wonders  

Where are they now

Those

Flat bottomed old

Scull oared

Those withy them

Turf boats each tied  

Tell me

Where are they now

Damn these

Tired eyes of mine

Have no fear

They be 

Ever so near sir

Both the toll and the

Ferry men cried

Look right there

Next the fallow

By the stony heaped

Long barrow

Down in the meadow

By Old Mullins Yard

Tis there over yonder

In the shallows

Sleeping soundly

Tween the milk thistle

And sedge n fine

Somerset willow

Tis there lies the last

Of them old

Parrett Flatner’s

Moored n dry docked

In Old Mullins Yard    

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Old Parrett Flatners = an old flat bottomed vessel used mainly on the river Parrett that runs by the bottom of my garden
Scull oars = steering oars, one at each end
Mullins Yard = a ships chandlery & boat graveyard
Wetlands = the Somerset Levels an area of Somerset historically liable to flooding
Fallow = a meadow left unfarmed for a year to rest
Barrow = an ancient oft prehistoric burial mound
Withy = long supple willow stems

Reviews

[Lorry]

Well thank the big beardy guy in the clouds for your authors note Neville, I struggled first time round until I saw it, but was quite pleased with seeing t'other, which always makes me smile.
Yon is a word us Scots share with you, but the rest was a lesson for me to get my head around, and I've still not had me first coffee yet.
Maybe counting your steps would be advisable for you, what with your vision.
And if like me, please don't mix up your readers with your distance glasses.
Best to be safe and get yourself fitted with satnav just in case, it'll probably warn you a nanosecond before you hear the sploosh 😀
My old local was called chandlers, which now makes sense, as it is opposite John Browns shipyard on the Clyde.
I just thought that bloke from friends owned it.

[Neville]

Cheers Lorry.. I shall be careful henceforth mark my word :)

[Beccy]

Technology, (to a point,) is to be embraced, but the more we distance ourselves from the old traditional ways, the poorer we become.

Interesting that the industrial revolution was less than two hundred years ago, (a blink of the creator's eye in the grand scheme of things.) Yet here we are, dry docking so much of our history and heritage, that before long a walk in the country could easily become little more than a footnote in the history books. Madness!

Beccy.

[Neville]

absolutely spot on.. and I thank you for drawing attention to that very fact.. ta me duck.. and be sure to take care of you and the big fella during these most trying of times.

Neville

[emmajoy]

' Where are they now.. Them.. Old Parrett Flatner’s.. Those workhorse.. Those wetlands.. Those one-time.. Wooden wonders - '..

How precious and wonderfully visual this poem is, and, so essential to put to words. Milk thistle.. yes! So much is disappearing into dusty history books and faded prints. Thank you for reminding me of the trueness of my neighbour-laid county and its glorious history, habits and haunts, you did a right proper job!

[Neville]

your visit here today and associated comments are much appreciated emmajoy and I thank you for them

Neville

[emmajoy]

There are so many tales to tell in this part of our country, folklore, myths, history and more.. each and every second needs be remembered and passed down foreverness.

[Tom]

A wonderful nostalgic peek into your homeland as times once were, and here one can almost see, hear and smell those former halcyon days now long past as nature reclaims the landscape of old 'Mullins Yard '

[Neville]

Well howdy me old mate... thank you so bloomin much for checking in and leaving those words up there for me to find... I am delighted to see you back again you old sausage... I hope you and your loved ones are baring up and keeping well...
thanks again Tom

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

I have returned Neville, as I know you have tweaked where you weren't happy. I googled to try and find a picture of a Parrett Flatner without success, but I needn't because your descriptive write painted that image for me. This time I heard more, the old Somerset dialect and smiled. Do you speak like that she once said :) Milk thistle and sedge, I love how you weave in the natural world into your poetry. You know it's quiet on here at the moment and foot travel slow, this so deserves to be read more. Come on people, stop a while and tarry.

Chris

[Neville]

you are ma'am customarily far too kind & altogether gurt lush .. still tinkerin I be...
read more
you are ma'am customarily far too kind & altogether gurt lush .. still tinkerin I be...

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Anyone who mentions me with the word lush in it which doesn't refer to drink is a friend indeed. Thanks Neville :))

[Chris Shaw]

I like all things boats and I could picture this scenario well. Some local Somerset history. Your boat graveyard in Mullins yard a record of past times and people no doubt long gone. I appreciated all the help you gave your readers with the additional notes. My mind always wanders when I sea the wrecks of old boats to who used them and how they lived their lives. Another delightful write from your pen Neville.

Chris

[Neville]

thank you our Chris.. not sure what went wrong when posting but this is not exactly as I had hoped... maybe needs a little touch up here n there... Neville :