Bluebird and Bells (edit S1)

[JJWilliamson]

I crossed the Kent at Nether' Bridge
an' found The Ring O' Bells,
bought a pint of Blue Bird ale
an' toasted a' the fells.

I supped me beer, imbibed a dram
an' listened for awhile
to jests from folks an' drunken blokes,
a' told in Cumbrian style.

If your right hand can hold a jar,
if you can find a pew,
come take a seat an' rest your feet
an' sample Donald's brew.

Original

I crossed the Kent at Nether' Bridge
an' found The Ring O' Bells,
then bought a pint of Blue Bird ale
an' toasted a' the fells.

I supped me beer, imbibed a dram
an' listened for awhile
to jests from folks an' drunken blokes,
a' told in Cumbrian style.

If your right hand can hold a jar,
if you can find a pew,
come take a seat an' rest your feet
an' sample Donald's brew.

[David]

I like this, JJ. Sounds very authentic to my inexpert ear. Is "dram" right, though? Haven't heard it used in this context before. But that could just be my inexpert ear.

Must be worth a few free beers from the landlord.

Cheers

David

[Mark101]

Good evening JJ,

Very pleasant Cumbrian ditty, I like it a lot.

Dram, I'm sure is fine, though I did think it Scottish, we even used it in Hull, so I'm sure the Cumbrians can say it too LOL.

No nits, no crits, to me it's perfect as is.

Is a' short for "all"? That's how I was reading it anyway.

Mark

P.S., edited comment later to include that I was reading "dram" as something that went with the beer, and not of the beer. I agree that that's the only way you can use the word.

[David]

Ah, now if you had a whisky chaser, that would be fine. It's just the idea of a dram of beer that bothers me.

[k-j]

It's a good poem, my only issue with it is that you have the internal rhyme in the third line of s2 and s3 but it's missing in s1.

(I assumed the dram was with the beer, not of the beer).

[David Smedley]

Enjoyed this JJ. I liked the line break on "awhile" in V2.

The only thing I could see that (minor though it was) gave me pause for thought was that, "then" in V1 could be seen as padding to fit the syllable count, verse 2 is perfect in that way, I had the same thought about "come" in V3, but it did not bother me as much as "then."

[Firebird]

This reads really well to me, and I also again like the sentiment.

Thanks for a really enjoyable poem JJ.

All my best,

Firebird

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks for the positive reply, David

If the landlord wants to frame this poem a pint or two wouldn't go amiss.

'Dram' refers to the whisky chaser. There are many Scottish influences in the area with 'dram' being up there with the best.

Pleased you enjoyed

Best

JJ

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks, Mark

Yip, the dram is a whisky chaser. Several Kendal bars have or had a huge range of malts for sale.
Is a' short for 'all'. Yes, it reflects the kendalian lilt which is quite sing songy to the ear
and is actually one of my favourite northern accents. Soft and melodious sums it up.

Thanks again, Mark, pleased you read and enjoyed.

Best

JJ

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks k-j

for the 'good poem'

As for the internal rhymes I have none in S1, one in S2 and two in S3. Say that with your teeth out.

Yes, the dram is a chaser to be savoured with the beer. They make good partners.

Best

JJ

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks, David

I appreciate the pointers very much. The poem and meter wouldn't really be affected if I dropped those words but
I don't think they burden the poem with too much slack either. I'll give it some thought and tinker with the possibilities.

Pleased you liked that line break.

all the best

JJ

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks Firebird, for the positive review. Delighted you
really enjoyed my sojourn to the Ring O' Bells.

Best

JJ

[Katherine]

Ah, the Ring o' Bells, Kendal. It was bloody awful! The decor, that is. I hear they refurbished by putting in a new bar stool!
Nevertheless, this 'old man's pub' was very welcoming indeed, thirty years ago, when I was but a bairn - despite 'The American Werewolf in London' style greeting on seeing young lasses entering. That's the last time I was there.

I can't remember spending much, but I came out drunk and well-versed in dominoes!

Anyway JJ, I really like your poem. It has brought back happy memories and I love the nod to 'real English'. x

[ray miller]

Enjoyed it too.
to jests from folks an' drunken blokes - that's a lovely line.

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks Katherine, for the very illuminating reply, it put a smile on my face. Ah, the place had bags of style and the
local characters were a hoot. The refurb' was a stroke of distressed genius and the beer was famous for its quality
for miles around. Many tourists were guided to the doors of the Ringer when enquiring about a good old fashioned pub.
When you combine this with the local architecture and the magnificent revived gothic Parish Church you can't fail to be impressed.

Fishin', dominoes, the weather, recent antics up town and a main course of ribald jokes always featured on the menu.
Int' summer you could sit outside if you fancied a lungful of exhaust fumes to accompany your gallon of amber brew.

Pleased it brought back some memories.

Best,

JJ

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks Ray, delighted you enjoyed the trip to the Ringer. It was great to read 'that's a lovely line', much appreciated.

Best

JJ

[Antcliff]

Folks and blokes. Folksy, but in a good way. Enjoyed it. Deserving of a free pint, surely!

The true bard would wander the fells, going to different pubs, changing the names slightly to suit in order to get a pint or two or eight.


Seth

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks, Seth

You put a smile on my face. Hartley Coleridge, son of the more famous Samuel Taylor, used to wander round the Lakeland villages
cadging beer wherever he stopped. He became a well known local character. He was particularly recognised for his sonnets, penning
one of my favourites. Long Time a Child.

Best

JJ

[JJWilliamson]

Should have done this before.
The first door leads to the room where I took a seat to rest my feet, the second to a larger lounge. The first photo could be me and some of the regulars. It isn't, but it could be.

JJ

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=the ... ajaxhist=0

A little bit of history. It's the kind of thing that interests me.

http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/kendal-ringobells/

There's quite a bit of advertising on this link. Am I stepping on any toes? If so, I'll remove it.

J

[Ros]

I can't really comment on the dialect, but I enjoyed the poem.

Ros

[JJWilliamson]

I can't really comment on the dialect, but I enjoyed the poem.

Ros

Thanks, Ros. I could have sworn blind that I'd replied to your post. (must be losing it)

Best

JJ

[David]

One of our illustrious founding members, the late lamented Barrie Haughton, was a resident of Kendal, I think.

[JJWilliamson]

Was he really. It's a small world indeed. I've read some of the tributes to Barrie and it's plain to see he was a popular, talented lad. I've noticed the section dedicated to Barrie's poems. His Eden Valley poem evokes so many memories, prompting me to read further. I've eight pages to go at.

Thanks David, pleased you told me.

Best

JJ

One of our illustrious founding members, the late lamented Barrie Haughton, was a resident of Kendal, I think.

[David]

Was he really. It's a small world indeed. I've read some of the tributes to Barrie and it's plain to see he was a popular, talented lad. I've noticed the section dedicated to Barrie's poems. His Eden Valley poem evokes so many memories, prompting me to read further. I've eight pages to go at.

Thanks David, pleased you told me.

Best

JJ

Very happy to make the introduction, JJ.