Phil is a member of the writing groups that meet at Radcliffe Library in Bury (or were doing until the lockdown). The groups were formerly Tell Us Another One Story Groups, based at community libraries since shut down.
Phil's collection of poetry, Now Where Was I, published last autumn is available on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-Where-Was-Collection-Poems/dp/1689145706/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Phil+Barling&qid=1588495298&sr=8-1
Turn the lights back on
I want to smell petrol, hear buses and the cars
down Ancoats and Parkway, airport bound for the stars
wailing and flailing into wild Friday night,
screams some of delirium, some of delight
I want to hear again those Metro doors whoosh
The “How’s it goin?” the “How are ya’s”, the whole crazy caboose
Colliding bodies, the “Sorries”, the pub singalongs
the buskers, Big Issues, the Chuggers, the pongs
of dodgy kebab shops, of perfume and pies
Smiles wide as motorways, replacing dead eyes
I want takeaways, taxis, and train station sadness
Saturday night pre-fills, the mascara madness
reflections in shop windows open for business
the dancing, the acting, the old fairground dizziness
I want old friends and strangers, the kooky, the clowns
The crackle of barbeques in city and town
Leave the woods to the sparrows, fed up with our chatter
Take again to the streets, to the chaos and clatter
To the old Bury market, the barter and call
The touching, not too-muching, just closeness, that’s all
I want oxygen of folk giving life back to street
The “Hiyas, the “See ya’s, the places we meet
to shake hands, hug and kiss, on a cool afternoon
I want to be there, it can’t come too soon
©Phil Barling April 2020
Excellent 👍 well done, you.