The We Help Our Own local poetry anthologies have previously raised funds for CDH UK and Broughton RUFC. Now comes the third in the series, Sonnets From The City Of Salford, in which collator, Simon Williams, showcases his own verse.
Williams, owner of Sounds of Salford Radio and the author of three Hidden Depth books, specialises in telling how it is, in Salford street lingo, and this collection picks up the theme...
If God Is A Manc, Then The Pope Is A Salfordian, sees the holy man knocking back ten pints of crystal in the Waggon and Horses on the 'Height, pawning gold in May's, telling the BBC they're in Salford Docks and slagging off the Tory Government. Salford City Council also come in for a rollocking in The City I Love...
...'The dirty old town they once did say
men at the council moved us away
they're knocking homes down and trying to move us out
yuppies moving in, of that there is no doubt
Social cleansing of the highest degree
everyone thinks it, not just me
no building council houses no more
they sold them all off
soon in my town
you have to be a toff...'
It's poetry from the doorstep, with an accent to match, as any poncy notions of iambic pentameters go out of the kitchen window in favour of heart-on-the-snotty-sleeve feelings and emotions; be it deeply personal stuff about lost love or love for Salford rugby club, from The Willows to the AJ Bell...
'...will never forget the smell at the side of The Shed
far too many Greenhalls for them dressed in red
moved us away, out of town
most of the fans now have a frown
atmosphere gone, fans rocking no more
plenty of coaches shown the door
48 years later on, still suffering the pain
each year start of the season Wembley my gain...'
Salford love, Salford loss, Salford music...Salford pope...It's all in there as frank as it gets, in luscious Langworthy prose.
Sonnets From The City Of Salford is real, soul-on-the-slab verse that even Vinegar Vera would have appreciated...It's a vital addition to any cultural collection of local history and histrionics.
Sonnets From The City Of Salford is available now for £2.50, with all proceeds going to St Ann's Hospice.
There are only one hundred copies printed. To get one email siwilliams123@outlook.com or message Simon Williams on Facebook