Mersey New Year

At the top of the hill, in the dark, looking down

Counting the seconds with the waiting town.

The lights fizzle up as the numbers fall by

Painting a new year across the black sky.

A palette of hope paints a storm of delight,

Bringing a false day to bear on the night.

But through all the booming, the singing, the roars

Come the sounds of the boats off the Mersey’s bright shores.

Pushing their voices, their deafening call

To make sure the river gets the last say of all.

The one thing that means New Year to me is the sound of the foghorns on the boats on the Mersey.  It’s a beautiful sound that could contend with any choir.  It says “I’m still here!”  Happy New Year.

On the Hilltop.

Go and look from the hilltop now.  Where we used to go.

Does it bring back thoughts of happier days?

Warmer summers and light-hearted ways?

Does it make you wish that those times had stayed?

I’d really love to know.

 

Go and sing all the songs we sang.  When we wanted the same.

Do they trip from your tongue like they used to do?

Like a secret language for me and for you?

Does it seem like the music is still playing through?

Like the changes never came.

 

Go and read from the books we shared.  When you needed me.

Do you turn all the pages like turning back years?

Laugh at the memories or choke back the tears?

If you sit there in silence, is it me that you hear?

Reading the words you see?

 

Go and look from the hilltop now.  And think of how we were.

Do you smile at the daft little ways that we had?

Remember the small things that made us so glad?

Do you wish we still sat here? Does it make you feel sad?

I’ll treasure the times we spent there..

This is about looking back at the times when my children were younger and we did more together. We almost never go anywhere as a whole family now and I miss that. The hilltop is Everton Brow, from where you get a fantastic view of Liverpool, the River Mersey and the Wirral Peninsula.