THE SMACK BOY

I never know me dad , 'ardly know me mum

Me dad , was lost on the '' Campanula ''

She could not be the mum we needed , there was seven of us

Being a mum , were to 'ard on 'er to cope

Mum was kind of young I suppose , to be a mum to us

So I was sent to The Smack Boys Home Ramsgate

Life was 'ard , you 'ardly believe just how 'ard it were on us kids

They trained us to work on the fishing boats , The Smacks

Some of me chums died at sea , washed up on the sands

Laid in paupers graves wrapped only in a burial muslin shroud

No coffin seven nameless in a paupers grave

A small concrete marker with a number , no names , even there name

Taken from 'em in death

A ropes end often applied to me ear , or on me back many times

I was sure 'appy I was an ugly kid , so only got a thrashing

Unlike the ''pretty boys'' , who got comfort from right ugly dirty old men

Those bastards had religen , so they considered was there right

They sent me on to Smacks to learn how to fish , it was bloody 'ard work

Dangerous too

Some times they fishermen gave a few coppers

Though the '' 'ome '' , took most , when I landed on the quay

The Smack Boy Home , was no more than slavery

Was I happy , when war came , then I was free!

Ken D Williams

The Dyslexic Wordsmith






Poetry by ken d williams The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 520 times
Written on 2013-03-03 at 19:02

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countryfog
Dickens in a dark mood . . . a vivid and harrowing story Ken, you tell the history no one else wants to anymore, though we have become who we are because of, and in spite of, it.
2013-03-04


shells
I rail at the injustice and exploitation suffered, keep writing and reminding us. It's a privilege to read your honest and true work.
2013-03-04


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Ken, its been a while since I've read your work, You have lost none of your passion and style but you are ever increasing in the stinging clarity of your words and phrases. The topic here is horrendous and your grasp of it is powerful. We need your work to let us never forget.

Joe
2013-03-04



Mr Williams, I am stunned, saddened, and yet grateful to read these words. You have painted an horrific picture of "how it was" in those day and the acceptance of that. In my coddled generation we have no idea of hardship such as you and your peer group endured. Thank you for reminding me, and others, that your generation brought such exploitation to an end. Thank you also for giving me the notion of my own words on this subject. Your words touched me deeply.

Thanks again for sharing this with us.
Liam
2013-03-04