Lillian Bilocca

[eclipse]

Life below the water is drawn towards the suns reflection

refusing to drown, waves are like the disparate pages of

the city's history unable to create a seam, winds carry

the skeleton of a dream towards a tree that grows eyes

instead of leaves inside the mind of Lillian Biloca, enough

eyes to see through the holes in the nets of fisherman,

gathered to form a singular vision; working class forever

drowning, bourgeoisie forever climbing. Lillian can hear

the waters in a photograph sing for three sunken trawlers,

their voices trapped, she ripped up the paradigm and raised

them from the sea bed into a photograph. Lillian sailed with

the moon and held it's anchor, the night made her captain,

she then sailed the sun through Hessle road taking the

residents into history to record the ascent on Parliament.

[Tinker]

Barry,  I think this is my favorite of your work.   I just kept getting sucked in further and further.   I'm unfamiliar with the subject but I certainly am interested in finding more about Lillian whom I assume to be a real person.  If not, the poem is a compelling work of fiction because your words came alive on the page.

~~Tink

[tonyv]

A hometown hero, Barry? I had to google her, but it seems there has been an artistic tribute, a mural dedicated to her:

Hull mural honours trawler safety fighter Lillian Bilocca

Your poem is a lovely literary tribute to her.

Tony

[dcmarti1]

a tree that grows eyes

instead of leaves

 

Riveting.

[Benjamin]

A fitting tribute to a remarkable local woman "Big Lil" who campaigned for safety measures following the loss of three Hull trawlers in 1968 - St Romanus, Kingston Peridot and Ross Cleveland - all sunk in quick succession. Only one man survived.. I recall the tragedies well-- for I lived only 30 miles away at the time and my wife's father was also a trawler man  sailing out of Hull. The city was badly affected.