Oxo

Making Memories, Gallery Oldham

Snakes and ladders game, from Oldham Galleries Handling Collection.

Oxo

O Saturday afternoon, Oldham Edge

truth, dare, force

kiss such a body

marbles and all sorts

kiss a girl called Edith

Oldham Edge, backside of gasworks

a spine of hills, trees, grassed top

cross from Higginshaw-O

sledging down our street

skating

the neighbours shout – ‘clear off!’

take it to the blacksmith

irons for the sledge

knock it and screw it and bend the conduit

O Lees Brook

put wooden boats at top

run all the way, following them down

made me own submarine

with a bit of lead and wood

twist, pontoon,

truth, dare, force

O snakes and ladders

a doll’s house with furniture

Saturday afternoon to Newhey,

catch the bus from Spotland Lane

a drink of Oxo and play

whist or cards with granddad

cribbage, draughts

jumping over

you huff em

huffing, crowning

either way

a few years ago

when I was a young boy

Saturday afternoon, Oxo.

Group Poem
Springboard Group, Oldham

For more information about the Making Memories Project please visit arthur-and-martha.blogspot