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Graeme Sinclairs tribute for Alex

Graeme Sinclairs tribute for Alex

Hugh Barrow11 Feb 2016 - 11:45
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A fitting tribute to a great character


Graeme Sinclair's poem for Alex:

An Righ Ceann an Iar/The King of the West End

Twilight on Great Western Road
Aye reflected through your lens
Shadows. spires and arcs of light
The voices, cars and footsteps, friends.
All yours.

Near every street between the crosses
Homes laden with memories
Long nights of wine and "West End Breakfasts"
The festival beneath the trees,
All yours.

The Highland line, Govanhill, Erskine
At Hillhead a boy emerged
The subway air intoxicated,
Joys of becoming fully-fledged
All yours.

From Gilmorehill you saw the world
Took the parts you wanted to
Found the heartstrings of their folk
And brought those threads right back with you
France, Manchester, New York, all the Netherlands
Donaueschingen, Denmark and more
Looped through an arch beneath the bridge
Tied to that corner in Munro's
Rugby, Football, Shinty, Social Justice
Were the vibrations on those wires
Their lifeblood flowed, those lines that glowed
Argument and love their fire
All yours.

In those shadowed spires, the bells now ring
Each distal strand reverberates
And all those hearts at breaking point
Pulled back to G12 as it grows late
Where evermore you'll lie in state
In binding Glasgow Uni ties
In victories for the little guys
In each tub of jam the NHS buys
And though like hen's teeth, in Scottish tries
The King of the West End is dead, long live the king.

Alasdair Seoras, ar Ailig Mhor.
A Mhic Iain 's Iseabail,
Fear Mor a Chridhe as motha
Oidhche mhath ma tha,
Tha gradh againn ort.
Tha gradh mor againn ort.

(Alexander George, our Big Alex,
Son of John and Isobel
Big man of the biggest heart
Goodnight, then.
We love you.
We love you very much.)

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