Poem

The Picturesque Town and the Bigger Picture

It frustrates me, living here, living in the past,
Whilst my friends and the world move so fast,
Everyday this small town feeling gets me down,
As I watch ambition sink and drown,
Your rural history stands you tall,
But your town is crumbling and it will fall.
When your out-dated lifestyle catches,
Aflame on society’s matches,
Your nonchalant stroll will leave you trapped,
As the final life-blood artery is snapped.

You insular people gain some perspective, some clarity,
Before your home becomes an idyllic charity.
Where you rely on outsiders just to survive,
Mainly ‘Those rich English’ you love to despise,
Your rural history isn’t so tough,
And your make-do attitude won’t be enough,
When your complacent culture catches aflame,
You can look around but they’ll be no-one to blame,
But yourself, for the short-sighted lives you choose to lead,
And the ambitionless children that you choose to breed,
So I’ll stay and work, but flee soon as I can,
To grow unlike your boys, into a man.

I am young but ambition means nothing to you,
And I cant even see how this town grew,
Tell me the story, kindle some pride,
And see the bigger picture.

James Nock
Buckie, Scotland

I am 19 and have recently moved to Scotland. I began writing poetry at 17, I have never been published online or in any magazine but now think my poems are worth submitting. This poem is about the challenge of moving into a racist (anti-English) and insular community.

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