Robbie, lives in ruins
Of a big mans pride
They came you see
To quiet the beast
But the darn thing died
When the wheels were stilled
And the dust no more
The heart of the town
Lay and bled on the floor
The brass band still played
Though the rhythm was lost
And Robbie is paying
Heavy the cost
Communities battered, picket lines crossed
see his dad went to school
Never learned how to write
Though he learned how to "wag it"
Drink home brew and fight
Not " thick" like they said
There were brains in his head
But his father was broken
And his mother was gone
And the sorrow was deep
And the anger was strong
So he sat in the classrooms
And he scrawled on his desk
"Dum head they dubbed him,
Oh yeah and the rest"
That was the kids
The teachers were worse
So daddy just learned how to silently curse
When the letters danced round,
And played games in his head
He would push back the tears,
And wish he was dead
Still, when he left school,
With a handful of nothing
He believed he would soar
Thought no one would stop him
But the town was still broken
"A job", that's a laugh
They'd stamped to the dust
What was left in their path
So they paid him a pittance
As he learned to paint walls
They said "Good luck, your on the up...when fortune calls"
But cash was tight
Belly's empty
Hope was low
Though pride still plenty
And a can of paint would buy ten fags
Though shoes had holes, and clothes were rags
So Robbies dad, met Robbies mum
Stupid kids, just wanted fun
And there in the alley, devoid now of dust
They shared a fag, and a dose of lust
They never had a proper date
No chocolates or romance
Though daddy did the decent thing
Rob never had a chance.
Five years on
Daddy was gone
Mum was a wreck, though she tried to be strong
The new "uncle" was hard
Robbie was small
The bigger you are the harder you fall
But the smallest fall worse
When they're thrown at a wall
But big men don't cry so he held back his sobs
And he learned how to laugh
With the dick heads and nobs
Then they sent him to school
Get a good education
Learn how to spell words like humiliation
And waster, and looser, and class segregation
"Soon you will be the pride of the nation"
Learn how to take it,
come on be a man
To blot it all out
Just drink all you can
So Robbie lefts school with a handful of wishes
Went on a scheme, learned how to wash dishes
But money is tight
Though pride is still plenty
Bellies are shrunk
And the cafes are empty
The price of a burger
Would buy twenty fags
Though shoes are still tattered and clothes are still rags
Now he lives in the wake of a man made disaster
And waits for the start of the "big ever after"
And his son learns in ruins
Of hell and damnation
And soon he will be the "pride of the nation"
Author notes
Well, okay, I never do politics, but I grew up as a Robbie of this world, luckily some one saved me and kept me on track, without them my kids would have had very bleak futures, we were lucky enough to break the cycle,
but every day I meet families still trying.
They are victims of a society,still reeling deccades after the thatcherist govornment came and stamppd on the little guys, during the Great British Miners Strike, more than two decades ago
Thanks
T
A contest entry
- Historical Figures & Events by Hannah Sophia.
800 points, ended July 10, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 30 of 30
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Awesome. The title is perfect. I love the section on learning words in school. It really flows, and rings true. Well said.
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Really compelling write here, Theresa. Circumstance can be so frustrating. The last stanza is stellar! :
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HEY, THANKS
this one is hugely personal to me, i work to support families whos kids are struggling in school ect, and you would not believe the amount of kids still suffering the back lash, i grew up and live in barnsley right at the heart so this is hugely personal to me i guess,
thankyou...
T
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TOO COOL
This a wonderful, inspired word romp. The rhythm is reminiscent of a tale to be song in and Irish Pub.
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what a story!!!
this is f-ing amazing,,, the story was precise and clever,,, to say the least,,, very much enjoyed was this one,,,,my wife will love it,,, i'm at work but will send her a link,,,hope you don't mind,,,,thanks for the wonderfull read
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You got it right darling, I live in a bad neighborhood in one of the most dangerous cities in my homeland. We have watched our future being sent to China and Mexico to allow those who already have all they need get more and more. I agree, if not for the love of friends and then family I would most likely have taken the darker road.
Our schools are falling apart, a sure sign of the society that will follow.
As the Sun rises, shining through the pollution suspended in the air, the angels no longer sing, for there is no future here.
Peace
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thanks so very much
Its good to know it hit the spot. Dont know what ya know about the british miners strike? I grew up, within earshot of the picketing at the colliery where it started. Our community, as all mining communities was ravaged by poverty. The whole social infastructure just dessintigrated.
Somehow any sense of hope or aspiration got lost in the carniage, more than two decades on, I see the effects most every day.
People sometimes say, move on build on it, but despair and low esteem seems to have become part of the make up,many just never had a chance, we are all products of a thatcherist govornment
lol, I should probably stop
Thanks my friend, and I hope the Angels come back soon
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Excellent write and very heart felt indeed
You hav ewritten the very plight of many in this nation so hurt and made fun of and the teachers today should be horse whipped for letting it contiue and for even being a part of this abuse at times . Bless your heart honey and I award you for your strength and the compassion you have found to follow a better journey ahead .BRAVO ON THIS PIECE
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I love it.... so many people everywhere have this view of the world as an unbreakable cycle of the same bullshit, generation after generation, and to some extent it can't be broken- not unless someone helps you out of it.
Amazing write. <3
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omfg ...
this ... omg .. i mean omg woman
this is now my new favorite and omg were you in my head? ..
i can not give this enough praise ... you should do politics mor often i mean it! so awesome it just carried me and punched me in the gut with every single line .... not flattery even if i dispised you .. (like that could happen) lol i would still be in awe of this one 
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lol, well thanks, im flattered,
I grew up right in the heart of the miners strike, could hear it all every night, police bashin miners heads in mostly, or troops, even, pretendin to be cops, but the pickets would find buttons from their clothes n stuff.
Yeah anyway, where i live, is still recoverin two deccades on, sometimes I work with families with kids with eduction issues, you would not believe how much the thatcherist govornment is still responsable for that
okay okay, ill stop, down crazy woman
anyhow thanks, ur comments mean such a lot to me,
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I like this a lot. Though I've seen stronger rhyme and rhythmfrom you, this has an extremely tangible cadence, it's really great. I love to see less structured poems that sound this great. Wonderful job!
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Thanks,
yeah, this is close to my heart it became a rant more than a poem, also as i was writing i was reading outloud in the dialect , of the area I wrote it about, so it was distracting me. Thanks for the thoughtful comment
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Admiration
This is on my list of one of the greatest writes,i've read.
This is so simillar to what I started writing,almost three years ago.
Unfortunately,I had chosen the wrong platforms to speak out for the victims of this sordid well planned cruelty.
Then I started writing some crappy mushy mixed up style poetry.
Brilliant write,my dear friend.
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OMG thanks thats a really flattering comment, seriously, im humbled
T
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You told the story well
No idea at first where we were headed. Brought to mind words from an Elvis song "On a cold and gray Chicago morn another little baby child is born ... in the ghetto... and his mama cried"...
Terrific job displaying the cycle and telling the story. A sad story. The thought crosses my mind that I think perhaps many of the poets on AP are people who have broken free from one cycle or another.
The other thought is that unless someone makes a change somewhere in their lives (ie moves, gets educated...), until a change is made the cycle continues for an indefinite number of generations.
Perhaps you identify with "Robbie" but the fact remains that you chose to take advantage of an opportunity presented to you to choose and make a different future Congratulations G.
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Thanks G
Dont know how much ya know bout the miners strike, or the Thatcherist govornment, it happened right on my doorstep, and collapsed a whole community, well multiple ones,
lol, yeah, guess im the one that got away, but not till I had kids of my own, so
mine were lucky, though we had to pay for a big chunk of their education, specially for l and a, who like me are profoundly dyslexic, and our education system is still in recovery.
I work sometimes with families whos kids have educational issues, and so many of them are having problems with routes two deccades or more ago.
but people here, they have yorkshire grit, so slowly, change is coming, in my time kids like me never went to uni, but now its the norm, so yeah the future is ours
thanks g for your lovely comment
T
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Its easy to forget the long time damage that polititions inflict on the small man, I travelled throughout the northern mining towns during the strikes and saw for the first time genuine povety, it has stayed with me since, your poem paints very graphically the hardships of those very hard times, which, for many, sadly continues.
I think the title is very telling, often all that is left in those run down areas is military life, and all the dangers that brings. I think the first stanza is a very strong introduction, the poem is very powerful, an important contribution.
Thany you.
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They just keep getting better "T" so now I have another best of writes. I come from a mining family and know only to well the hardships they suffered and the life that came to be their only existence. I was very fortunate that when my mum and dad met it broke the cycle for me. I'm not political either love but understand wholy your words here in this excellent piece...Very well written.....mal
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Thanks, I work sometimes with the education authority ssssssupportin kids with special needs, well their parents actually, its scary how many are still stuck on the rounabout, like you, i got lucky, but its a case of there for the grace of god I reckon
glad you liked this one mal
thanks
T
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so true. sometimes society is to blame...but we the poeple make society not society make us...it is then that we must take accountablity for a our actions so that the youth the next generation has more than broken homes and dreams
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COULDN,T AGREE MORE
ITS GONNA BE HARD TO CHANGE DIRECTION, BUT ITS THE ONLY WAY FOREWARD
THANKS
T
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one of your best by far. u said u rarely do political works and here uve crafted such an amazing tale. this cycle is true worldwide and continues on everyday. i know because im still trying to break out of it. the emotion, rythm, and repetition not only in the lines but also the story is amazing. wonderful job. i will applaud u later bc im on my phone but seriously, amazing write. thank u.
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENT,
I SOMETIMES DO VOLUNTARY WORK WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE KIDS WITH EDUCATIONAL ISSUES, SO MANY OF THEM STILL STRUGGLE TO BREAK THE CYCLE, BUT THEIR SPIRIT AND GRIT DETERMINATION AMAZE ME
THANKS
T
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interesting write
i liked the whole very much, all though the story seemed to skip around a bit. it seemed both political and familial to me. you've made an excellent point though in that there are so many people who become victims of this society. i most liked the repeated parts of "the pride of the nation" bit....wonderful and poignant sarcasm! great write!
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THANKS, I GET WHAT URE SAYING, BUT IT WAS KINDA DELIBERATE,
I WORK SOMETIMES WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE KIDS WITH SCHOOL DIFFICULTIES
SO OFTEN THE ROUTE OF THE DIFFICULTY LIES IN FAMILIAL ISSUES, BUT THE FAMILIES ARE LITERALY WEIGHTED DOWN BY THE POLITICS OF A GOVORNMENT THAT BROUGHT MY AREA TO ITS KNEESE MORE THAN TWO DECCADES AGO,
THE PARENTS HAD INNADEQUATE EDUCATION, WITH OUT ANY ASPIRATIONS,
THEY ARE FIERCLY SPIRITED AND DEDICATED AND PROUD, BUT ITS SO HARD FOR THEM TO MOVE ON, BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD CHANCE TO BETTER THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE LOW SELF ESTEEM, LOW EXPECTATIONS, AND IT ALL THEN BECOMES PART OF THE MAKE UP OF THE NEXT GENERATION, SO THE CYCLE CONTINUES, AND AT THE BEGINING OF THE CYCLE WE ARE BACK WITH POLITICS SORRY FOR THE WAFFLE,
THIS IS AN ISSUE CLOSE TO MY HEART
tHANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL INDEPTH COMMENT
T
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Wow
Raw emotion throughout the whole works. Such a story to tell and you did it so well. All you have to do is drive through West Virginia and you will find so many people like this. I grew up there and saw a lot of that. Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work!!!
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, YEAH I GUESS THE PROBLEMS ARE WIDESPREAD, IM GLAD YOU COULD RELATE
THANKS
T
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well i can certainly relate to this as i im a bit illerate and left school at 13 learnt to fight and well hide all the gentle stuff this is a fine pice with a great message youve done well thersa very well
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SEE THATS WHAT I MEAN, ITS JUST A NEVER ENDING CYCLE, WITHOUT THE RIGHT START OUR KIDS JUST DONT HAVE A CHANCE, AND ITS NOT JUS DOWN TO PARENTS, ITS ALL OUR RESPONSABILITIES,WE HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND SOON
THANKS
T
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