Bypasses and ringroads
motorbikes and cars
modern modes of transport
leave their gaping scars upon this land
so green and pleasant,
we yearn for times gone by
but gazing at the narrow-boat
I wonder if our eye has rose-tinted
our view of the water-born
workhorse, now driven for pleasure
coal-carrying forgotten as we
pursue times of leisure and joy.
The canals were our highways,
industry was fuelled by these watery
paths – fumes, dust and noise
clogging the arteries of England’s
long spine.
Freya Writes... 
Very cool historical piece. Yes, I’m sure that those canals were a very different place ‘back in the day’.
Oh yes – they were filthy and coal smoke choked everything. I’m glad you enjoyed my little piece!
Lovely poem!
Thank you!
I once wrote a poem about that region, the Grand Canal; would like to see the canals one day; loved the poetic trip you gave us; thanks.
Thank you, Glenn. Care to share your Grand Canal with us? They are a treat, by the way. A branch of the canal system cuts along only a few minutes walk from my Mum’s house… great memories of growing up!
Ha, yes those canals where sure arteries of industry.. A great set of romance that fill the literature…
Thank you, Bjorn. I’ll try the dark side of the canals another time 🙂
So interesting, I live in an area of Western New York that also had a canal system, and just like yours, it’s now used strictly for pleasure. Love the bit of history you wove into this.
– fumes, dust and noise
clogging the arteries of England’s
long spine.
great close… and love how you brought the destination to life
Thank you, Anthony. The older I get, the more I am proud of the heritage of my little corner of England.
i hear you….we talk a good game on the environment and then chug on in our cars and keep on destroying….how cool would it be to ride horseback again….well maybe not in some circumstances but….smiles….the canals would def be cool….smiles….
Definitely. We all get swept along in the daily grind… I have actually ‘legged’ a narrowboat through a tunnel – where you lie on your back and move the boat along with your feet on the roof of the tunnel. It was at the Black Country Museum. Great fun, when I was a kid!
I would love to visit those canals one day ~ Lovely close as well, smiles ~
They are beautiful, and oozing with history. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Very nice!
Thank you!
Love this! Love the travel down watery lanes and the history behind it. Thanks SO much for joining in!
Thank you, Shanyn! Watery lanes – a lovely description 🙂
The rhythm flowed so smoothly as I read it… I like the rhymes hidden in the lines, revealed by the flow. Very nice.
Thank you – I was hoping the rhythm would make itself felt.
What a beautiful write about a lovely place with history wish I could visit them once in life
Thank you. If you can visit one day, I hope you enjoy them.
Ah I didn’t know that. I crossed Birmingham a few times on work travel and didn’t have chance to notice. Thanks for sharing such a lovely poem as you take us on a journey with you.
Well, if you are in Birmingham for work, it’s hard to take a moment for your own time, isn’t it? And the city is very big… Thank you, Abhra.
Lovely Freya, great to touch base with home and remember a past history.
Thank you, Michael. Yes, it was good to take root again.