Some cities have buildings, some cities have lakes

But this is a small town with a river that aches

Docks where the men worked once lined both the banks

Building the carriers for our naval ranks

The docks are now filled and houses erected

But evidence of the past is always detected

Street names and sculptures to remind the present

Ark Royal Way and Northumbria Crescent

The river flows by – remembering it all

Tug boats and ferries on this magical mall

Ships launched sideways too long otherwise

I wonder if a jet ski it does now despise

Children invited to witness the launch

Time out of school one happy school bunch

Another new ship is sent on its way

Proud sons of their father all having their say

My dad built that one, what about yours?

My dad built this one (with some help of course)

All so simple – the children don’t know

When they need a job, where will they go

So some cities have buildings, some cities have lakes

But this is a small town with a river that aches

The river that held not just frigates and boats

The river’s still there but gone are the hopes

27/06/08 © Steve Coltman