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LIFT INSPIRES POET

Our thanks go to Leas Lift  campaigner, Robert Mouland for sending us this poem written by Ann Houghton and inspired by the Leas Lift 1890 Carriage Restoration project. We hope you enjoy it

A Gauge of Time

Out with the old, in with the new
Call it modern philosophy, is that what we do
Not so long ago, there was value and repair
Age to respect of things to love and share

Down by the sea, things of great design
Fagg's bathing carriage, ladies so refined
Trolley o­n a switchback, riding an undulating course
Amusing and exciting, like a strong and gallant horse.

Up and down the cliffside, little cars to ride
Lifts balanced by water, tiered seats built inside
Busy, busy how those steel rails had shone
Breaking to 4 miles per hour, bearing to 40 tonne.

Now standing o­n the shoreline a hundred years hence
All that I find is a crippled railway inside a modern fence
Why should I feel sad, when I wasn't there
History's not even my subject, but feelings I still bear.

Who am I but a resident respecting the past
Knowing someone made something, intending it to last
I'm not doing a lot but others certainly are
Looking to the lift, now where is that car

There are still two others riding up and down
But o­ne built in 1890, must surely 'wear the crown
A chap called Bob Mouland more than loves it a bit
He's vowed to return it, where weeds now do sit

He's gathered some friends with a like minded view
Away o­n a crane, the car to renew
Down at the bottom we'll wait by the lift
For something repaired and valued, how proud it will sit.

Anne Houghton
November 2006