DYLANS BIRTHPLACE

DYLAN'S BIRTHPLACE  BY TIM WILLIAMS 

HERE I STAND AT 5, CWMDONKIN DRIVE
IN THE SEASIDE, SHIPPING CITY OF SWANSEA
A HOUSE UNLESS YOU KNOW IT'S PAST
WILL RING NO SHIPS BELL'S IN YOUR HEART
WILL CAUSE NO WAVES IN YOUR UNWELSH HEART
WILL CHANGE NOTHING IN YOUR DREAM OF SEA HORSES

HERE WAS BORN A BOY, A WELSH BOY
WITH HAIR LIKE WAVES IN SWANSEA BAY
ON A WINDSWEPT STORMY DAY
ENTERED THIS WORLD, JUST HERE ABOVE MY HEAD
NOT ALL BLUE LIKE THE SEA BUT YELLOW
LIKE THE LIGHT ON THE SAND, TURNING MOUSEY / RED, AS IF FOR WALES 

A BOY CONSTRUCTED OF WORDS, GESTURES AND VOICE
WHO LISTENED LIKE A DOORBOY AT HIS FATHERS KNEE
TO THE SWISH OF SHAKESPEARIAN PAGES TURNING
TIPPY-TOED HE STOOD ON THE UPSTAIRS LANDING
CRANING TO SEE SHIPS SAIL AWAY O'RE THE ROOFTOPS
AND LAY ASLEEP ABOVE ALL SNUG AS A BUG

HE RAN CAREFREE IN THE SPRAWLING PARK
AS A COWBOY, AN INDIAN , A JUNGLE JIM
AND DRANK FROM THE CHAINED CUP OF LIFE WITHIN
AS A PIRATE, OR SOMEOTHER SUCH DESPERADO
FOUGHT MANFULLY WITH OTHER BOYS AND WORDS
AND STRAIGHTENED ALL INTO DANCING LINES

BUT THAT WAS 100 YEARS AGO, NOT NOW
NOW I STAND HERE AND ADMIRE HIS BOYHOOD WORLD
AND MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SITS INSIDE HIS WALLS
AND VAGUELY UNDERSTANDS WHY SHE IS HERE
OTHER THAN TO HEAR HER FATHER SPOUT WORDS
BUT ALSO TO CATCH A 100 YEAR OLD ECHO OF HIS