Tigedr Bay

I do not know the poet. I believe it was written between the two world wars.

Tiger Bay

I watched the coloured seamen in the morning mist,

Slouching along the damp brown street,

Cursing and laughing in the dismal dawn.

The sea had grumbled through the night,

Small yellow lights had flickered far and near,

Huge chains clattered on the ice-cold quays,

And daylight had seemed a hundred years away…

But slowly the long cold night retreated

Behind the cranes and masts and funnels,

The sea-signals wailed beyond the harbour

And seabirds came suddenly out of the mist.

And six coloured seamen came slouching along

With the laughter of the Levant in their eyes

And contempt in their tapering hands.

Their coffee was waiting in some smoke-laden den,

With smooth yellow dice on the unswept table,

And behind the dirty green window

No lazy dream of Africa or Arabia or India,

Nor any dreary dockland morning,

Would mar one minute for them.

aswanseavalleyman: Many thanks for your comment. My father would have been delighted by the connection. David Jones
Ian Lewis: Many thanks for the interesting read. I believe Sam the Italian was my grandfather, Samuel Lewis, of Duffryn Rd Alltwen. He was born Sabatino Luigi
aswanseavalleyman: Thanks for your kind remarks. My father would hve been so pleased.

A Swansea Valley Man