'ere you iz - part first

the night's invaded by strange, looming sounds -

creaking oak chests trapped by their locks, lids

moaning for freedom; entirely warmed by

under-floor heating beating old floor-boards

as if drums played on a river bank miles away

where life orchestrated

in this small village with both a front room tea

shop, and, and pub with three cigarette ceilings

stained by a few old country wheezers' puffs

along with a sick doctor's denial that he

is dying to have a double anything if it stops

degeneration from an unhealthy thirst - is

outside, feet from an unlit telephone kiosk -

now the dust-decked home of a spider's family

who have not once needed an ambulance

a bike leans against the old wall made by

Fred Flicker, an ancient old boy with a lisp

who sings to his heart's content but not others

his crabby wife is a nag who beats the living

daylight out her gran's bedroom rug, then

chases a pig and two geese off her swedes

life in the village had been passable until the

incomers arrived and swiftly swept away 

several past habits and six old inhabitants

the latter, never having forgiven them - chose

to teach them an abnormal lesson  but fair:

the countryman's version of .. 'ere you iz

Reviews

[Vol]

EmmaJoy,
There was a time when you poems were always mentioned on my feed, now I have to search for them... Worth every step of the trek through all the rest of what surprises our path. I wish I were an incomer... maybe a mile away so as not to intrude overmuch on the lives you know and the scenes you paint... My soul lives there already, waits for you to pass like the Girl from Ipanema... "And when she passes, each one she passes goes, "Ahh."

[nadia dmitri]

Your poems always remind me of ones from hundreds of years ago, the language always feels so whimsical and the ideas feel so thoughtfully developed. Reading pieces with an old english feel is you provide often and beautifully, amazing work :)

[emmajoygreen]

Thank you so very much for your lovely comments, nadia. I do find it easier to write like that.. don't know why cos when speaking I use fairly normal language. Some might be less kind than you and call me odd, however!!! Again, thank you. Keep safe and happy, dear you. :)

[Lydia Shutter]

It takes a village....and often the old ways are the only ways the village wants to know. Sometimes it seems as though time has forgotten some of these neighborhoods, but the people who live there are happy...content. They look out for one another. There is such a homey cozy feeling to your words in this one, Emma. Smiling at spider family not needing an ambulance....so lovely. Loved it. Lydi**

[emmajoygreen]

Have lived in three village areas in Dorset... although travelled quite a lot. As much as I've loved visiting other countries, etc.. there is something about country life that is special and whilst there are or can be things missing.. there is a good feeling, trust and a lack of sophistication or facade except when people move in and want changes! Suggestions are considered tho.. it's polite and welcoming to accept changes but not when denigrating (sp) well tried ways. Many thanks for your kind words, Lydi... you're always a welcome visitor and friend. :)

[Soren]

This poem full of vivid images teases the memory where many are stored. outside, feet from an unlit "telephone kiosk -
now the dust-decked home of a spider's family
who have not once needed an ambulance"
A wonderful stanza here. Loved the feelings evoked with this poem

[emmajoygreen]

I live in a village of spiders' families and the like.. 'times they iz a'changing, Soren.

[Lorry]

I do know the sounds of a creaking oak chest, moaning for freedom as flooring thankfully expands with the hope of a hopefully warming spring.
And the whys of "now the dust-decked home of a spider's family
who have not once needed an ambulance" could only come from your pen, when you observe the minutest detail of small village life!
But then again, there are so few living life outside the loud noise of big city talk that will never quite grasp that they are the fools for thinking that the pace it moves is abnormally slow instead of what used to be and sometimes thankfully still is the pace it should be lived and that city living is what we should all strive for...It is not and never will be.
'Ere you iz will always make more sense than "you what?" ☺

[emmajoygreen]

Visiting cities bring glorious gifts to self.. but living in one.. oh no, thank you very much!
read moreVisiting cities bring glorious gifts to self.. but living in one.. oh no, thank you very much!
Noise comes without invitation, peace and calm come free of charge and gently except for magical take what you can in the countryside. Many thank yous, as always, Lorry.

PS There is so much wisdom found in peace... it can learn and live indefinitely. Consider all the country folk who have created music, art, life and its means to beginnings as well as ends.

[Lorry]

And no thank you in return ☺

[Sharrumkin]

Prose is concerned withe ideas behind words; Poetry with the sound of words. I can hear this in your poem.

Sharrumkin

[emmajoygreen]

How very kind, thank you so much, Sharrumkin

[Ken Simm.]

Its the lovely descriptions of the old ways that I love here and find them or some of them in my own present village and my old way of life.
This is a lovely paen of praise to that life before we get to the incomers. Again much the same as here.
I know which I prefer and that is as I prefer this wonderful poem.

[emmajoygreen]

Good morning, Ken! As ever, many thanks for your understanding comments. Seems village life is much the same everywhere - has both its hiccups and glory! So, whilst life as a whole is a darned size worse, village life can be a very snug and protective place to be in! As to preference, I feel the same about someone who views then leaves a few friendly words!
Hope the sun is shining up there, Is radiant here: windows are open and fresh country air is in and out according to whim! Madame and I had a chilly but bright mile long walk, up hill, down dale, etc.
Now sipping hot chocolate before tidying pre Mothers' day church service then a family buffet for the same reason. A gentle and happy day...

[Tom]

These time are a changin' but that old traditional hometome village remains ever stoic, impassive to invasive modernization....

' the latter never having forgiven them - chose
to teach them a lesson, not a normal one but
the countryman's version of .. 'ere you iz '

Inspiring

[emmajoygreen]

Village life has its best and worst. When times are hard/difficult eg Covid, people get together do what they can, shop, sort garden, walk dogs, keep an eye on peoples' presence in home. Day to day certain folk can be nosey, like a touch of gossip or the like... just to add a little something 'extra' in their lives perhaps! We take life with a pinch of salt, but at same time, keep an eye on each other just case needed for some reason. Within fiction.. poetry or prose, we can do whatever we like!!!! :) Many thanks, Tom, your reviews are always kind, understanding and amazingly prompt! Take care of yourself, stay well and smiling.

[Tom]

Ditto my poetic friend 😋