Greenlane Poetry

Milennium

Millenium (4 Chimneys)

I know where we are
we are at the four chimneys
she would often say

Yes this was the water-meadows once
where the shoaling Don held up
vessels plying inland from the coast

the factory flues stand out stark
against the spoliated ground less dark

we crossed the valley
are they in the sky above
can we see the birds

Yes the smelly settling pools bred flies
which spiralled over willow trees in clouds
rising swallows martins swifts

once at high Ravenfield assembled
vantage point for vale of York and Ridings
even to the Pennine Chain with beacons
waiting on milennium moment

when fires lit the sky
I'm glad I lived to see it
the blind woman said