Hear the silence
Singing birds and lapping water
Pulling tons as if not there
Coal and Coke, Rock and Stone
Slowly, slowly, all day long
Smell the smoke the tea can’s on
Relax for now, the works to come
Look the locks, steep and grand
A rest for the horse
While we lock up and down
Winding the paddles, water flows down
Spishing and splashing, gurgle and grind
The boats on the move now
Steer from behind
Lock after lock, majestic and grand
The steps to heaven
Are built to stand
Up over the bridge and along the path
I think of the men we have to thank
Who cut the clay and shaped the bank
They dug the cut with shovel and toil
To move the rock and old King Coal
With tightened rope and plodding gate
These streets of water made us great
Inspired by a visit to the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Wheeldon and the "Top Lock" pub, I think.
Alistair Parker
3rd December 2013
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