tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25979010408124008592024-02-08T06:52:22.992-08:00Mike Barry - Manc In HeavenMike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597901040812400859.post-56406257938500980892017-03-30T02:36:00.001-07:002017-03-30T02:36:59.173-07:00Her Man ChestHer man chest<br />
Was the chest of her man<br />
With sprawling hair<br />
In a master plan<br />
<br />
From Sale on one nipple<br />
to Ardwick on the other<br />
And his Beetham Tower<br />
Under the covers<br />
<br />
She loved her man chest<br />
And in a state of elation<br />
She declared her man chest<br />
God' greatest creation!<br />
<br />
<br />
NB - Teachers, when reading this poem with your students please note that 'her man chest' is an anagram of Manchester and that is what the poem is actually about. I've been told by some fans that this poem was a bit too obscure on the first reading, but for me discovering hidden meanings is part of the joy of poetry, so I've decided not to spell it out and to let people work it out for themselves.Mike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597901040812400859.post-9255788324856607522017-03-30T02:24:00.000-07:002017-03-30T02:24:21.381-07:00Me Dad Was The BestMe Dad Was The Best<br />
But he never took a rest<br />
When put to the test<br />
He passed, we were blessed<br />
His shirts was pressed<br />
And his hair never messed<br />
Though at bedtime he dressed<br />
In his kecks and string vest<br />
He was distressed<br />
At our kid's first arrest<br />
He went and confessed<br />
He'd become so obsessed<br />
But the priest was impressed<br />
With his Catholic prowess<br />
And with that off his chest<br />
He had a pint of Hyde's Best<br />
<br />Mike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597901040812400859.post-25432106319109131962017-03-29T11:33:00.002-07:002017-03-29T12:06:45.344-07:00I'm A Bin<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">I'm a bin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">Drop yer litter in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">The bottles banging make a din</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">But I'm mad for it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">It ain't a sin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;" />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">Drop in yer needles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">But don't drop the ball</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">Coz I'm a bin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">And I've seen it all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;" />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"><a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824); color: black;" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="misc" x-apple-data-detectors="true">The Smiths</a> or the Roses?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">Which legends are finer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">I'm a bin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">With a thick black liner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;" />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">"Ich bin bin"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">It's German you plank!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">But I'm not a German</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">I'm a bin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">And a Manc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;" />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">- composed March 2017</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;" />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">This poem was inspired by the new bins in God's own city of Manchester. If you are from the council and would like to use the poem please leave a comment below.</span><br />
<br />Mike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597901040812400859.post-61501321269673862202017-03-28T02:22:00.003-07:002017-03-28T02:24:25.761-07:00A City United/United CityA united city in every way<br />
Except of course on derby day<br />
But even then we're Mancunians first<br />
With a pint of Boddies to quench our thirsts<br />
<br />
A city united around the Smiths<br />
Of men (and some women) with Morrisey quiffs<br />
Of Levenshulme lads in parka coats<br />
And Mardi Gras floating Canal Street's boats<br />
<br />
A united city, I don't know if you've seen<br />
But City United's the name of our teams<br />
That we watch with kebabs from Fallowfield's skewers<br />
That we wash with our tears down Oxford Road's sewers<br />
<br />
<br />Mike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597901040812400859.post-44216338975508994442016-12-16T03:07:00.003-08:002016-12-16T03:07:47.671-08:00We ARE The People<div class="MsoNormal">
We aren’t the people whose houses have butlers<br />
We’re the descendants of the scuttlers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We aren’t the people with money, the rich<br />
We didn’t vote for Thatcher THAT BITCH<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We aren’t the people of Oxbridge, the dons<br />
University of Life is where we’re from <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Poetry’s not about books and posers<br />
Poetry is the Stone. Fucking. Roses. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So stuff yer cloisters up yer arse<br />
We ARE the people, this city is ours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7;">I was inspired to write this poem when I remembered about an English teacher we used to have in our school who smelled and wore tweed and used to bang on about TS Eliot and stuff. It's thanks to him that I never knew what poetry was, not until me and our kid went to Spike Island. I hope you enjoyed it. </span></div>
Mike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597901040812400859.post-70271054444773729222016-12-16T02:52:00.002-08:002016-12-16T02:52:41.626-08:00A Manc in Heaven<div class="MsoPlainText">
Me and my mates went to the gym in Moss Side, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
With our
Johnny who is a mile wide, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Boxing and skipping and then going for a pint, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
In
the Northern Quarter or Longsight.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
We're all from Manchester where people bloom, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Inside a
bedsit on a road in Hulme, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Anthony H Wilson was fond of saying, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
The world is
right when United are playing, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
And Oasis, the Mondays and Duretti Column, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
And
Canal Street with the guys who like to bum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I bought a fag lighter in a shop on Market Street, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
And
found out that United got beat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
But Saint Anthony knows we're all one people, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
From
Rusholme to the Town Hall's steeple, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Steve Coogan and Mani and Maxine Peake, </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
They all know of the heaven of which we speak.<o:p></o:p></div>
Mike Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03996291097132485929noreply@blogger.com0