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Liverpool has had a long tradition of voices raised
in song, poetry, protest and laughter, in many tongues
Irish, African, Chinese and Indian, poets from Felicia
Hemans Gerard Manley Hopkins and John Masefield to present
day poets such as Elly Rees, Cath Nichols, Levi Tafari
and Paul Farley – and these are just a tiny handful
that compose the marvellous, soaring vibrancy of Liverpool,
soon to become 2008 European City of Culture.
The rhythm is in the blood and the blood of Liverpool
is the River Mersey. Home to sounds of the Merseybeat
in the 60’s, 8 from 8 in the 80’s, home
to football and pan scouse, ferries, soaring architecture
that are jewels in the nation’s architectural
crown and down to earth humour that warms the heart
on a wet day, walking up Bold Street to visit one of
the Cathedrals, joined at the hip by Hope Street.
The rocking riverbeat of the Mersey that swarms tidally
past the City twice a day from the Irish Sea has been
both a giver and sender of news, music, poetry and laughter
to the rest of the world.
Go into a pub a stranger and come out a friend, being
hugged and smiled at by a couple of young people who
were thrilled to hear a New York and a Cumbrian praising
their City, their home. It isn’t hard to get to
the heart of understanding Scousers (I know, I’m
married to one), ask them a question about their City
and they’ll give you all they’ve got about
Shanks, Lennon, fashion, politics and what it means
to be a Liverpudlian.
The stone flight of the ever present guardian angels
of the City, the Liver Birds, are a symbol of hope,
rebirth and wanderlust – but the river will always
bring back wandering folk from Liverpool, bringing with
them new voices and energy from their travels, having
taken with them a gritty sense of never being defeated
in spirit that emulates the great American poets...such
as Woody Guthrie, Jack Kerouac and Walt Whitman.
Three Liverpool Poets who were feted like pop stars
and who are now, although Adrian Henri died a couple
of years ago, still highly regarded are Brian Patten
and Roger McGough who frequently perform in the UK and
abroad.
But who was Royston Ellis? A plaque reflecting on the
impact of this London poet to the 60s Liverpool scene
still hangs today in Ye Cracke, John Lennon’s
favourite drinking hole. Did he ‘discover’
the Beatles? Perhaps more importantly, what other young
poets are still ‘out there’ writing, laughing,
drinking, arguing, waiting to take centre stage –
maybe this could happen in 2008?
Are there dreams soaring enough to help them fly above
the City that bred them and grounded enough to talk
to the ‘blood of the common people’ in language
that is conversational yet philosophical, with the kind
of positive spirit that fired Liverpool's greatest literary
lights?
I believe there are. And what’s exciting about
the next few years before the City really flies the
flag around the world of culture, showing people what
a truly vibrant, thriving place it is, is the discovery
of hidden talent in pubs, universities, clubs, cafes,
bookshops and schools that’ll really make Liverpool
hum - and become the truly great City its people know
it to be.
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