Bonfire Night. Poem by PAUL COLVIN

In from school, we’d skip our food
The search was on for bits of wood
We’re out there pushing logs on prams
Or half a tree under your arms.

This wasn’t just about a fire
If theirs was big then ours was higher
It was street v street for years and years
With competition always fierce.

You’d wait ‘til dark, go on the prowl
Intentions good but play was foul
Fights broke out with best of mates
For stealing stuff, like wooden crates

Any scrap was plucked with haste
And nothing ever went to waste
They say every penny makes a pound
Never was it so profound.

A home made rag doll in a pram
We’d sit and beg then told to scram
For asking A Penny for the Guy
So we could see our fireworks fly.

On the day of Guy Fawkes’ night
We’d dream at school of bonfires bright
Planks and chairs, a fence, a box
And sat on top was Guy de Fawkes.

Roaring flames, red, blue and green
The greatest fire ever seen
Sparklers, rockets, Catherine wheels
And jumping jacks had us doing reels.




A full moon shone on us below
The night was ours, ours to show
That we could build the best around
Then light and raze it to the ground

But in between did we have fun
A great night had by everyone
Come hail or shine or sleet or snow
Our display would make them glow

Kids and adults loved this night
But poor wee dogs got such a fright
You’d see them scarper, run and hide
All curled up and terrified

And still we stood, our cheeks pure red
With beaming faces, head to bed
The night was over but still not done
As the next day told, which street had won

We’d waken up in darkest night
And look to see if the fire’s alight
The embers slowly burned away
And still they glowed at break of day

Had we won? We all told lies,
About our fire and its size!