Calhame

1. One night as I lay sleeping, A dream so sweetly came

I dreamt that I was back again, At my Granny's in Calhame

I found myself standing, At my Granny's old back door

And the hogue that I encountered, Nearly put me on the floor

2. For 20 yards away, And honest I'm not fibbing

That's where my Granda decided, To put a massive midden

I suppose he didn't realise, When he started it years before

That the midden would get much bigger, And now it was nearly in the door

3. With dung from cows and pigs, And dung from geese and hens

If my Granda was still alive, It would've reached the five road ends

Thankfully in my dream, I gently moved along

Past the old dung midden, And the heavy pong

4. As I walked down the back, My heart began to throb

For coming up the yard, I met my Granda Bob

I was really pleased to see him, And thought this would be such fun

Then I noticed under his arm, My Granda had a gun

5. As my Granda got much closer, I couldn't help but stare

For round my Granda's neck, I saw a big dead hare

As my Granda walked on past me, My heart was filled with joy

For I hadn't seen my Granda, Since I was just a boy

6. I slowly walked behind him, To see where he would go

I couldn't help but notice, He was clabbered from head to toe

He passed the old dung midden, And headed round the front

Then I quickly realised, He was heading for the pump

7. There he washed his feet, And gave his face a rub

Then he went inside, To see if there was any grub

I followed close behind him, And slowly walked through the door

I heard familiar laughter, I had heard years before

8. I saw familiar faces, Of neighbours all gathered in

I stood there in amazement, As I listened to all the din

They were talking about the corncrake, Her call sadly now is still

They were telling of the fun they had, Around the old threshing mill

9. They mentioned pulling lint, And tramping it in the dam

They talked of walking the hedgerows,

And picking raspberries for making jam

But sadly all these things, Are never mentioned today

The hum of the thresher is silent, The corncrake has gone away

10. The lint is sadly history, The dams are all filled in

If you were seen picking raspberries,

They would say you were a loony bin

But 50 years ago these things were the norm,

I feel it was a privilege at that time to be Born

11. But how swiftly, The years have flown

And things are not the same, Since those happy days

At my Granny's in Calhame,

12. But sometimes I think of the words, Our Saviour did say

Your life is like a vapour, And soon it is passed away

I really thank my Lord, For the things I have done and seen

And I thank Him especially, For giving me such a dream