POETRY OF MOTION

Ups and Downs in West Penwith

‘Mind ‘ow you go’, they used to say and never more true than ‘ere --
If you don’t say’un right, my boy, you’ll be a stranger ‘ere.

The startin’ point fer journies is P’nzance, as we d’ all know:
It don’t matter where you’re ‘eaded, it d’ matter ‘ow you go!

I’s right t’ go DOWN Newlyn and I’s right to g’w UP St Just;
From ‘ere you can g’w UP London - and BACK DOWN again, when you’re bust.

You can ‘gw OVVER Marazion and from there gw’UP Pendeen,
But then you d’come INTO P’nzance on the number 17.

Goin UP fair, goin UP Treneere, and then goin DOWN the Prom.,
To ‘ave bit geek if Loveday is still goin out with Tom.

‘Ee d’ farm OUT Ludgvan way and d’ come IN town each week.
I seen ‘un out with Loveday, when I went t’ ‘ave my bit geek.

I d’ dearly love goin round about, I’s proper job, my bird;
But if I d’ want describ’ un, I must use the proper word.

Up, down, in and ovver, there’s so many ways to go --
But if you are a Cornishman, I’m sure, like me, you’ll know.

A composition by Ezekiel Lestrange (78) of Ponsendance and Lower Leskinnick Bicycle Club