Grimsby Bound considers the experiences of C19th apprentices in the Grimsby fishing trade.
‘A remarkable collection of haunting and tender poems, which capture the stark tragedy of our fishing heritage….Gordon Wilson has given a voice to voiceless and has created a moving memorial to those who suffered and died, unmarked and unloved.’ Karen Maitland author of A Company of Liars and The Owl Killers
Grimsby Bound
In droves they came to feed
the need and greed
of the Humber mouth’s new god.
For fog and ice and storm
they were bound, brought
from city street and work-house
to be beaten and diseased,
buggered, burned, drowned
or chained and gaoled.
But the shame was short-lived.
Young boys wept, silent
townsmen tightened lips
shrugging off guilt
in a back street of the nation.
Strange Passage
Curious are the ways we boys end
our last voyage trimming sails,
hauling tackle, drawing water,
boarding fish, whether carried by the warp
or knocked over by the tiller
in snow squalls or fine weather.
And when these vessels lurch
as they do, then we fall from aloft
‘cos we fail to keep a grip
and our crew mates, helpless,
watch us washed away.
Then there’s suicide by gunshot
there’s paralytic fit.
We succumb to fatigue
and ague and failure of the heart
through fright. Others walk into the dock
and drown, and some, quite frankly,
disappear.
Arthur Grimwood, supposed drowned
Albert Emmons, supposed drowned
Earnest Freshwater,
Henry Sharp, supposed drowned
supposed drowned.