The Bold Project Blog

The Swoon of the Nightingale

Hope Street calm bars have let out cabs idle on Hardman Street neon
buzzing like a summer fly need to follow the path well worn 3.00 a.m

route marches down the Dock Road desperate for her attic room
double bed lilac calming the bleating of ship’s horns in the bay

morning rises with a milk float echoing through terraced streets newspapers dropped on Hall’s steps the 61 on up the lane

breakfast a view over to North Park bus stop centre of activity
freshly painted graffiti under the billboards ‘Yozza loves Paula’

Haze rising south over the docks traffic increasing city bound
radios tuned into weather reports ‘Another glorious day temperatures

ranging from 23 degrees up to a maximum of 26 degrees dry clear skies
with slight sea breezes in coastal areas patchy cloud developing this

Afternoon’ cancelled train opportunity to wander the platform dappled
in shade left to right and under the bridge watching the Wigan train

shed its passengers it shudders to a halt recalling years of using this
station as a way out

Boarded up warehouses in Mathew Street Cavern filled in opportunities
not seen Eric’s closed under tatty sculpture only mention of THOSE

four now a mecca for Macca acolytes who want to walk the same cobbles
as he did drink where John drank and buy Blue Meanies from

Cavern Walks ‘The Place Where It All Began…/ filled in for our illustrious redevelopment’ replica replacement we’ll build roll up

roll up for The Mythical Hysteria Tour Expresso Exchange John had to move he was blocking the door he took with him his oversized mop

head now he props up another attraction where tourists stare at names
those who played there over the road you know where that car

park is The Wall of Fame glistens gold discs obvious ones removed
souvenirs that you can’t buy in The Beatles Shop

rebirth of Button St in moves Wade and Ted luxury apartments for sale soon for rent BHS all glass and steel a fifties pos-tmodern dream realised

Lewis’s food hall reduced to three shelves of Rich Tea and baskets of dented tins like being the last one in Christmas Eve and buying 10 year old Macallan

to celebrate the season accosted by people trying to sign you up for credit cards with extra low interest rates only 3.9% in Central while the homeless

ask for spare change for a bed for the night turn left Bold St leading
towards cemented in Squares where once Nightingales would swoon

by Andrew Taylor.

Summer’s over Drad

Air feels somewhat colder first
thing. Astounded by routes
to be hiked and arms of the Cathedral
which I want to loop me.

Temperature. Think of Montreal’s
first snowfall, Billy’s photos of
the Pier Head in December and BV3
‘Discosis’ shopping in HMV.

Seek the answer. Loaded lunchtime
Catharine Street. Si’s speed getting
somehow predictable in its urgency.
Aware she’ll feel exactly like me.

*
‘You can take a trip around the world
without leaving your easy chair’

Locations will differ. The Friary,
the Town Hall quiet. Walk St. Anne Street
en-route to the Tower, sleep sticky in eyes
coffee somewhere our tonic.

‘The poet’s have been called for creation
we were born free to the world as we were
born we will depart’

Bold Street shop, curry ingredients.
Red Stripe fridge chilled. Hope in
Summer sun foreign students, open day.
‘Representing Faith’ attention holds.

‘I’ll carry on every single part I play
I’ll be so strong, hell I won’t give up the fight’

Hair zapped in Razor’s Edge. Flyers
given out, cash point trips. Step sitting
lock-out, provisional licence loss. Feel
magical, mystical, motherful logistical!

by Andrew Taylor.

(with thanks to Karl and Bran Van)