Poems from North Shields
by Meg Stephenson
Weshin Day
Aa cud dee nowt right for me muther
Shu never hed patience wi' me
But ter foller sum of 'a methods
Tuk a domestic science degree.Tek the weshin day fer instance,
Shu had is in such 'v a worl
Aa divint think Aa wes aal that thick
Orra simple minded gorl.Shu went at it all in a frenzy
She banged and shu stamped wiv 'a feet
But Aa must say it now in me muther's defence
She kept hersel ever so neat.Sum women Aa knew wore men's caps
Wi the peak on back ter the front
Clumpin aroond in workin men's boots
Were a hell of a sight ter be blunt!Well the day wud start wi' the boiler
Shu possed then for aal shu wes worth
Shu scrubbed 'n shu starched 'n shu mangled
Dashin aboot back 'n forth.Starch, dolly blue 'n 'Sunlight'
Werra tools of 'a trade so ter speak,
Two sorts of brushes 'n a yard broom as well,
Thank goodness it was just once a week.We boiled up more watter for scrubbin
Shop overalls covered in grease,
Swillin oot floors when wu'd finished -
Burra crabby voice never would cease.Wu hung oot the clays on a clays line
That stretched oot fer mile after mile,
Two props needed to howld it up high
An' rickety steps up ter climb.Aa thowt Aa wad fall 'n fracture me leg
But shu shouted "Oh divvent be soft"
An' when it was rainin wu carried the lot
Up stepladders inter th' loft.With ironin piled high Aa got crackin
At that job shu passed is 'OK',
Twixt ye 'n me shu cudn't be fashed
Ter stand aroond fettlin aal day.Well me muther stopped shoutin at me at this last
Nor pushin is oot 'v the way,
Aa think shu reely wes glad at the end
For me help 'v a weshin day.
The Brothers Grim
Taak aboot snotters! candles doon ter tha chin
'N never a cloot atween either o' thim.
Breeks cut down from tha fathor's 'n aal.
Galluses ter haad them afeared the' shud fall
Th' reached fra tha oxters reet doon ter tha calves.
Th' sartinly didn't dee 'scrimpin' be halves,
Scabby knees, nee socks, beuts wi ne toes.
Tha' muther had ne cash ter spare, Aa suppose.
Heeds shaved epseptin a bit o' a fringe.
Sit next ter them? "Naw!" Tte lasses wad cringe.
('The Two Brothers Grim' Aa privately named
But reely at my snooty thoughts was ashamed!)'Cos both lads were strudy, nee malice nor spite.
Th' struggled at scuill as weel as they might.
Lessons they missed did neither much harm,
Tha fathor wad teach them the ways o' the farm.
A strong arm was needed 'n that they both had.
Anythin else they cud larn from tha dad.Both lads grew tall an' larned canny ways,
Hoyed off tha rags 'n bowt better claes,
Courted the lassies 'n larned how ter dance
Till one day Aa met an owld marrer bi chance..."Hoo yer gannin on hinny?" Aa went up 'n said.
"Varry weel" sh' answered 'n torned a bright red.
"Aa'm gettin married" sh' ses wiv a grin
"Ter one o' them lads yer called the 'Two Brothers Grim'!"
Me Weddin
Wu want ter get wed Aa sed ter me Mam in 1953.
Shu wes taken aback 'n not best pleased 's shu crossly sed
Noo Aam lady catp'n er the Gulf Club this year fer good or bad
That' far more important ter me be far! Just wait till Aa tell yer Dad!He winna get dressed he'll tell yer hissell - top hat 'n tails are out.
So no white weddin - it's coloured 'n short, Aa c'n tell yer that fer nowt.
A butcher's day off is a Mundu yer knaa so that is the day we will choose.
(Most of the guests who worked didn't come - a day's pay wes to much ter lose.)Wu divvent need taxis except fer the bride, wa own car will dee the job fine.
But when the day came it had gone fer some meat 'n didn't get back in time!The house was full of relations, the taxi wes crammed without me
So when it came back it got very late ter get te the chorch yer see.
As Aa stepped oot the hoos the neighbours aal gasped - she's dressed in gray - what a sight!
So dowdy shu looks, we expected much more, fer a weddin it's not very bright!The rest of the day wes quite jolly, good wishes and friends aal around,
But when we arrived at Loch Lomond, the biggest mistake yet wu found.The luggage sent on had not got there.
Necessities not ter be had.
But lookin back now, after near fifty year
The rest of the week wasn't bad!