The Cocklers Lament

From dawn to dusk and through the night,
They worked and riddled out of sight,
Far away on distant shores,
Men and Women do their chores.

Families so very far to see,
Pick cockles for you and me,
A fruitful day as some would say,
We picked cockles on Morecambe bay.

Such success we trawled for more,
On this lovely Majestic shore,
Are we illegal? No! we are not.
Travelled Migrants we forgot.

Just how savage life can be?
For each and all, including me!
In utter panic, we lost our way,
And on the bay we had to stay.

The light went dim we should have known,
Morecambe bay is now our home.
Oh gentle people be so kind,
Always keep us in your minds.

We worked so hard to get our pay,
Oh good Lord what a way!
Cold… Wet… And in the dark, we became the bay.
Remembered as part of the majestic Morecambe Bay.

To end our day and nights too,
On Morecambe bay so loved by you!
Sunshine come and light the bay,
We won’t see another day.

Look out and you will see,
Passing migrants just like me!
Please remember how we fell,
It was just a living hell.

So see the birds up in the sky,
They take our souls and make them fly.
Across the world from whence they came,
Sharing in the bay’s great fame.

Remember us with love, not fear!
We like you,
Now live here!

(C) Laverne Johnson --- West End, Morecambe.