OUR COAL MAN....
poem by:
Frank Hornby .
Written
on Sep 11, 2019
"With his huge Shire horse, pulling a cart laden with sacks of coal, the local coal man was providing our community with a vital role. The magnificent Shire horse would come clomping, along our cobbled old Liverpool Liffey street, exciting us small children...it was always a joyous treat. Wearing a black leather nose bag, and tossing back his huge maned head, this giant of an animal was always well fed. He'd stop outside our grimy old front door, stamping his massive front hoof, honest...I'm sure that his head was higher than our house roof! "How many bags this week love?" The blackened faced coal man would ask, lifting off those heavy sacks of coal, must've been a backbreaking task. The heavy iron cellar cover was lifted out of the way, "Just two bags this week please mate"...I'd hear my poor mum say, and down into the black hole, the precious coal chunks did drop, then the big coal cart would start rolling...to the lovely sound of Clip, Clop."
Tags: Happy, Rhyme, Imagery,
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Frank Hornby . commented on Sep 11, 2019 at 4:42pm
I used to love seeing the coal man, and his Giant of a horse coming down our mucky street in my City of Liverpool....
Lucia Ocean
commented on Sep 28, 2019 at 4:25pm
It's lovely Frank. I love the imagery - so well portrayed through your words.
R.T. Aquinas
commented on Sep 29, 2019 at 9:19am
Wonderful Frank, as always. I can picture it all. Clip clop, clip clop.
Frank Hornby .
commented on Sep 29, 2019 at 11:12am
Lucia, and Rhys...thanks for your lovely comments.....it's over 65yrs ago when us kids stroked the coalmans Shire horse.....ðŸ´
A previous user
commented on Nov 17, 2019 at 7:37pm
I can really get into this poem. the imagery is amazing. My grandparents still get their coal from the coal man but now days he comes in a truck and with help haha.
Frank Hornby .
commented on Nov 18, 2019 at 7:44pm
I'd love to have a real coal fire.....I remember as a kid, in hard times...mum would burn anything...old worn out shoes....dried potato peel..and pieces of wood that I'd find on the "bombdies"...and make it catch fire by throwing sugar onto it....until the coalman, and his horse drawn cart turned up again ..with a bag of coal...Happy days eh!...you don't know you've been born Jay!...hahaha....thanks for reading, and commenting mate...ðŸ‘ðŸ»....and you have a merry Christmas by your grandparents roaring coal fire!....all the best!....🎅ðŸ¼
