Emma Watkinson

Mi Arle Fella Johnny Wok was a legend, I called him the ginger Tom Jones There are plenty of stories about his life on the road It started with Lally teaching Johnny Wok to strum but the daft sod joined the army, just before Merseybeat had begun He was a terrible soldier, but great at escape He’d go AWOL routinely to go and Jam with his mates He bragged to his fellow squaddies about The Beatles prior their fame As he’d seen them play in Huyton before the whole world knew their name He ordered their first single from the NAAFI to share this wealth But as the sound crept off the record; Johnny Wok was cringing to himself “Please Please Me?” Like shite thee have Then he joined The Vaqueros, with Lally Stott at the front Then took over as singer after Lally moved on After those days had ended, the Horse Shoe took him on He was the regular in the 70s when he set out on his own That’s when Johnny Hyland was born, his stage name in the clubs Playing solo driven by Charlie, so he was not on hi...

Body in bloom but mind yet to flower Boys looked below an acceptable gaze My body stood out as my teens were awaiting I was mocked by my classmates for premature growth Bra straps were snapped by boys in the corridor Played down by the teachers, as innocent fun I was lonely and tired of the daily invasion but the attention replaced the connections I craved I found contact and company from boys past my year group I was too young to stop it from moving to touch The first one, not chosen saw this rosebud as lonely a card used to gamble his secretive plan He threatened to tell all that I had pursued him as he lay me on ground not designed for embrace The rumours went round as his friends were updated he gave details of actions he took without nod He fuelled judgement on girls who age without option ‘though our thoughts were in line with those yet to bud

I like mates who don't need selfies to prove our friendship's worth, there's no need for Facebook check ins for every meeting place we share I like mate’s who don’t demand my time in every vacant spot For who months pass without a text, then we pick up where we left off I like mate’s who don’t beg allegiance for all of their opinions you know, those one’s who hog the limelight ( and treat their friendship group as minions ) I like mates content with silence, who don’t need to fill each pause our chats without performance ‘cause simple company’s the cause I like mates without a tournament to tick a success box Competition with a mate can make a friendship hit the rocks I like mates without a mandate, who don’t demand I take instruction Who love when I’m a knob head coz their tickled by dysfunction I like mates who hate my fella when I’m angry with him too But then revert when I’ve made up with him, coz they respect my altered view I like mates who know it’s not personal, wh...