At night Swann Street dons a new facade
it's daytime-dulled-downbeat stroll
becomes slightly seedy, sometimes sultry
but mostly, it's alive
With the sights and smells of this City
saints and sinners alike
feeding energetic eyes
that pulse within
How they mingle and thrive-
upon the core of the Northern Quarter
the old buildings sit alongside
to the new
Yet still, they come, a congregation-
an eclectic choir of angelic-come-devilish whores
pimps, agendas met, dates taken
across the road
Near the ornate archway of Swann Buildings
cash converts to sex-
sellers of soul look over
at the Band on the Wall
Where for over thirty years
live music has sounded out
over the City's edge
the limit, where saints and sinners
come to celebrate life
a good time for all
Author notes
More musings of the Northern Quarter in Manchester
On the sixth day God created Man-chester
The picture is of the sign on the Band on the Wall's door, on Swann Street,Manchester.
This City has breathed in me for along time..
Written August 25th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- 100th!! Invite Only by Melissa Gayle.
500 points, ended September 11, 2005, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
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This is fabulous, a sensory stroll so full of images and things to take in. I feel this as I read (and dearly want to see it for myself). Your style is completely your own and I thoroughly enjoy reading whatever it is that you write but these piece especially, there is just something so intriguing about them. Loved it!
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Oh, this is such a great sensory tour through your city. wonderfully descriptive.
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liverpool would argue, but I'm on your time.
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god, you're amazing. i got a sense that you completely understood this city, like it was a part of you. again, amazing imagery, i could almost smell it in the air. so, i guess... smellagery
wowwowwowwowwow
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i am married to a manc ... he would adore this as much as I
elaine
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ahh Jilly's and Cloud Nine.. ooooh I saw King Kurt in Cloud Nine and threw-up in Jilly's afterwards.. too much fallin' down water I think.. roflmao..
Okies hun
You got it.. Jilly's next..
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I get all excited when I read poems about my home town. Havn't been to Band on the wall for years, and ( if memory serves me well ), I think the last person I went to see there was Ray Davis ( ex Kinks ! ) Or that might have been at the Witchwood in Ashton lol...
This is turning out to be an incredible collection of poetry Gill. Just sat here smiling because this truly captures the essence, the sights and sounds of a vibrant eclectic part of town. Proud of ya.
Take me a pic of Jilly's !!! Used to be my fave club...
Bookmarking all these too. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
S XXX -
hahahha
yeah... now that would be fun.. only trouble is.. i'd take people to all the seedy dives I used to go to and still do.. *ahem* heheheheh
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EEH Lass tha' mak's Manchester s'und lak Florence or Paris , Berlin even. They sh'u'd gi thee a job on t' tourist board. You breathe the city, the city breathes you , luv.
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aye Lass
I've been pissed as a fart in the BOW on many a Saturday night for over 20years or so... hehehhe..
so I know this place forsure.. -
You sucked me in with the awesome sounds of the first stanza it's daytime-dulled-downbeat stroll
becomes slightly seedy, sometimes sultry
...delectable
You carry the tone through this piece well, the fact that you've breathed it for so long is evident in your rich words. Ey up lass, lovely. -
I would certainly show you the City.. especially the Band on the Wall.. it is and will remain on of the best places to see live bands in Manchester
and yeah.. weird, wired and heady mix.. that's the Northern Quarter -
You have certainly done a fine job of increasing my curiousity about Manchester. Perhaps you might consider volunteering as my personal tour guide?
I love the vivid imagery you present, and some of your descriptions made me smile, such as "converting cash to sex."
Disturbed though it may be, I enjoy your perspective, and I wish you luck in the contest! -
Hehe!!
OooO
I love this so much!
I love Manchester, it's just so much fun!
Too, I have a friend who's sn is Saints_and_Sinners so I was curious
Fantastic! xxx -
perfect
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hehheh
you're here??
well that's cool
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thanks for the write, it helped me understand even more about the city I'm living in..
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You have put both pen and photo to good use while allowing us to see the sights and hear the sounds of a city, old, but still alive. Well versed.
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many thanks.. for stopping by
~GILL~xxx -
Thanks Dee, for your lovely comment
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Very nice write, never been there but perhaps I'll visit the next time in Mass. Great picture too. Love the lines:
Yet still, they come, a congregation-
of an eclectic choir of angelic-come-devilish whores
and pimps, agendas met, dates taken
and across the road
Very nice work. -
It sure is nice taking a stroll through your wonderfully written muses. I stopped in London once many moons ago but didn't leave the airport. It was a lay-over on my way to Turkey. Believe me I wanted to stay in London but they wouldn't let me!
I enjoyed the read.
~Dee
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