Grey Bear Culture Magazine

Facing Christmas again
Stepping slowly into December,
Makes you feel like you are stepping
into a completely different world
walking down to the other side of town
past house after house covered in decorations
Trying to find where an interview is on Friday

Barely able to look up
when the breeze picks up
Then the rain on the corner
Of the bridge of the M62
Then Windmill Lane
Only for the sunshine to come back out
When you are halfway back home.

Stopping outside for a few moments the edge of Crown Point North
stopping to try to tie up again
Both of your trainers’ laces
And you look up and ask me
‘How can any of this be true here?’
When you look at what was once there,

Our history facing us in the face
Retelling the story of what was before the mall,
a flash of hesitation
Of evidence of what was, what is and what will be
And how rushing around
avoids the past altogether
When we should slow down just a little.

By Andy N

– Andy N is the author of ten poetry collections, the last one being ‘Changing Carriages at Birmingham New Street’ and is the co-host of Chorlton’s Spoken Word night ‘Speak Easy’. He also does ambient music under the name of Ocean in a Bottle and does the music for the band‘ Polly Ocean’ and runs / co-runs Podcasts such as Spoken Label and Not the TV Guide. His debut novel is ‘Birth’. (Described as a charming coming of age Novel about the birth of a Writer – available on Amazon). His second novel ‘Death’ is out and the second album by Polly Ocean will follow in the Spring / Summer 2025. His links are here.