Anthony Cooney Visit @TnGTheBand on twitter.

Respected when first erected.
Now suddenly rejected.
Furious curious crowds mock.
Then carry you off to Bristol Dock.

Influential and existential.
Such a powerful potential.
Penitents confess for sins incurred.
While others reach for the shield and sword.

Heroic and historic.
Holy altruistic or erotic.
Judging and guiding those below.
Are just a perch for the seagull,starling and crow.

You gave us 5 ✋ gave us 5 ✋🏿 gave us 5 ✋🏽 and 5 more.

A high 5 hand down, what did you do that for?

See the struggles and the worry that comes to our door.

You gave us £5, gave us £5, gave us £5 and £5 more.

You gave us 5 ✋ gave us 5 ✋🏿 gave us 5 ✋🏽 and 5 more.

To knock down the bricks of the red red wall.

Then turned back home and now you never call.

You gave us £5, gave us £5, gave us £5 and £5 more.

You gave us 5 ✋ gave us 5 ✋🏿 gave us 5 ✋🏽 and 5 more.

We were deceived and cheated and are feeling raw.

Now we need to start knocking on the food bank door.

You gave us £5, gave us £5, gave us £5 and £5 more.

You gave us 5 ✋ gave us 5 ✋🏿 gave us 5 ✋🏽 and 5 more.

The milks off, the gas is off , the meter eats more.

The petrol is too expensive to put in my car.

You gave us £5, gave us £5, gave us £5 and £5 more.

You gave us 5 ✋ gave us 5 ✋🏿 gave us 5 ✋🏽 and 5 more.

Now the shelves are empty, people are feeling poor .

Winters coming and prices soar.

You gave us £5, gave us £5, gave us £5 and £5 more.

You’re not singing anymore.
My feathered friends who tweeted.
Outside my garden door.

You’re not singing anymore.
Seeds in cages go uneaten.
Outside my new front door.

Sparrow, Magpie, Chaffinch.
Robin, Blackbird, Starling.

Song Thrush, Dunnock, Pigeon. Nuthatch and Wrens all starving.

You’re not singing anymore.
I replaced the front grass.
With a block paved floor.

You’re not singing anymore.
I replaced the back grass.
With green astroturf.

Sparrow, Magpie, Bull Finch,
Robin, Blackbird, Starling

Song Thrush, Dunnock, Pigeon. Nuthatch, and Wrens are starving.

You’re not singing anymore.

Ive poisoned all the birdies.

With my 4X4.

Astra, BMW, Audi. Ford,Toyota Honda.

Aston Martin, Mercedes, Nissan. Volkswagen and Land Rover.

You’re not singing anymore.

The Pioneers.

From the towns of Teesside, the pioneers came.

We were pals all local lads I knew each and every name.

Trained and drilled in Gosforth then sent to Cannock Chase.

Before too long we were at the Somme where they had saved us all a space.

Frozen feet stuck on the mud in trenches far from home.

A steamy breath just meant that death had not yet overcome.

Shared cigarettes and cold tea getting ready for the time.

When we leave the trench together to overcome the line.

I saw you lying quietly face down on no man’s land.

I would not leave you sleeping a brother in the band.

If mind and pulse will tolerate and Europe shall be free.

We will meet again on Teesside and talk of La Vacquerie.

Whistles blew and bullets flew, confusion all around.

I heard a brother dying his life seeped into the ground.

Did my bullets hit or miss? Shooting blindly through the smoke.

A hornet nets we did upset. All we did was provoke.

Mean and lean at Fifteen Ravine near the village of Villers Plouich.

Then we bravely stood at Bourlon wood, another line was breached.

Battle of Lys hit very hard we were reduced to cadre strength.

The allied lines were pounded in battles so intense.

The one thing war has taught me is that victory has no taste.

Keep marching on and follow the gun through the wire and the waste.

If mind and pulse will tolerate and Europe shall be free.

We will meet again on Teesside and talk of La Vacquerie.

You look nothing like your photograph.

You never smile you never laugh.

You lied about your age and weight.

About your height and turned up late.

When others pass by day or night.

Your finger swipes either left or right.

You’re nothing like your fake bio.

You forgot to say that “you’re a psycho”.

You’re always drunk and talking crap.

100% match on the dating app.

Tired pennants of summer.

Surrender to the breeze.

Red and brown come tumbling down.

Saying farewell to the trees.

Seasons spent together.

Waving at the world.

Soaked by rain then nature’s flame

They grew then dried then curled.

Landing gently on the lawns.

In England’s villages and towns.

Await the winds or compost bins.

The circle spins around.

From an early age.

You looked to the stage.

Practice took up all your time.

Now the hour is here.

Your lines are so clear.

For a new star to sparkle and shine.

A quarter at 15 and at 20 a third.

A 10 minute stare, half way there.

15 minutes so slow still a quarter to go.

Getting ready to open the show.

Dim those lights.

Dim them all tonight.

I’m standing here ready and proud.

Trained and restrained.

A new name to parade.

Walking out in front of the crowd.

A quarter at 15 and at 20 a third.

A 10 minute stare, half way there.

15 minutes so slow still a quarter to go.

Getting ready to open your show.

The first interview.

Tell them what you can do.

All answers precisely on time.

An hour to go.

Racing mind to slow.

Positivity will, make this mine.

A quarter at 15 and at 20 a third.

A 10 minute stare, half way there.

15 minutes so slow still a quarter to go.

Getting ready to open your show.

The first pirouette.The first goal in net.

The first right hook.The first hand shook.

The first sound check. The first book read.

The first set won. The first song sung.

A quarter at 15 and at 20 a third.

A 10 minute stare, half way there.

15 minutes so slow still a quarter to go.

Getting ready to open your show.

A golden medal on the mantelpiece.

That a daughter had won in a local swimming league.

Overlooked during the house clearance.

Now sits alone, untouched by frail hands.

Behind the radiator, with the cobwebs and dust.

A Wishing you were here, but they aren’t and thats tough.

A locked metal box on a cold garage floor.

Photographs of a soldier in the second world war.

Mislaid and forgotten when dad passed away.

A struggle to remember his name and the day.

She’s leaving home, we can’t always be there.

A new beginning with 24 hour care

I wish I was a satellite.
Twinkling in the darkened skies.
Quiet as a winters night.
Observed by single watching eyes.

I wish I was a shooting star.
Rushing across the cold black sky.
Make your wishes from afar.
Ignored as I go flying by.

I wish I was a meteor
Showing in the constellation.
Incandescent and superior.
Showering over every nation.

I wish I was the shining moon.
Waxing, waning,reflecting light.
Upon a stage where lovers swoon.
Where poachers fish and fishes bite.

I wish I was the burning sun.
Warming up each cloudy day.
Shining bright over everyone.
Who takes the time to dream away.

Gogglebox.

Watching you watching others.

Sat with your sisters and brothers.

Your fathers and mothers.

Laughter and tears.

You couldn’t get closer.

Now a space on the chair.

They once sat there.

Charlie.

Who is going to hit the skins?

Tap the pedal, tickle the tins?

Drive on the beat thing.

A silent gentleman.

Who drove the words he sings.

Now a space on the chair.

An imposter waits there.

Don.

Brotherly love, a bye bye love.

Too many shows,the highs and lows.

That’s what fame does.

Wake up and dream.

From the stars above.

Now a space on the chair.

For Suzy to wake and stare.

Sean.

Comedy’s a hard and brutal game.

Most comedians sound the same.

Instant glory from internet fame.

I know your name.

The voice and the face.

Now a space on the chair.

Where a tiger stands and stares.