Loch Narrative

Loch Narrative Not lovely enough for Hallmark and too long for fortune cookies. Paul Narloch

THE DAY TIME RAN AWAYMinehead's lovely Jubilee Clock.It tells the time by coastal walk.The sun awakes as sea gulls squaw...
15/03/2026

THE DAY TIME RAN AWAY

Minehead's lovely Jubilee Clock.
It tells the time by coastal walk.
The sun awakes as sea gulls squawk.
A momentary morning.

Eye catching piece for public spaces.
4 sided pillar with synchronised faces.
Streamlined to tie its very own laces.
An ornamental folly.

Freestanding on a circle plinth.
A focal point in labyrinth.
I'll be one with hyacinth.
Fashionably late.

Reproduced in Victorian style.
Waiting for monies to compile.
Which local businesses done with smile.
Collect chronology.

It marked Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
On design which everyone had to agree.
Red ribbon bourgeois by the sea.
All back to Minehead.

Officially unveiled on the 2nd of June.
On day before unmasked full moon.
Engraver's silver christening spoon.
A commemorative plaque. (2015)

It towers fifteen feet in height.
Tick-tocking through a temporal light.
As day turns into spiritual knight.
Time has ran away.

A poem about a Minehead local living legend.A legend called Arthur the Cat.I turned him into a science fiction project a...
03/03/2026

A poem about a Minehead local living legend.

A legend called Arthur the Cat.

I turned him into a science fiction project and weaved nods to celebrated authors who have used cats in their work.

Minehead #10 Using both natural and man made environments to create North Hill a character of its own. THE FACE THAT NO...
28/02/2026

Minehead #10

Using both natural and man made environments to create North Hill a character of its own.

THE FACE THAT NORTH HILL PULLS

Occupied throughout the ages.
Cast on bronze and iron pages.
Cracks and wrinkles that long time gauges.
Outcrop of National Park.

Quartzitic rock that glints when seen.
Purple-red or greyish-green.
Settled in a shallow marine.
Hangman sandstone shapes.

The hogsback ridge of coastal cliff.
Heathland hair with wind-swept quiff.
An impro brush with deep combe riff.
Highlighting character.

An upright spine of yellow gorse.
With bracken nose that's been through wars.
The hiking trails where feet explores.
Rambling up and down.

With satellite eyes that spots attack.
And radar ears that echo back.
The lay of land that raiders lack.
A superior terrain.

With scattering of a freckle like flint.
And grassy mounds of gun placement.
The archaeologists finger print.
Remnants of the past.

Bun Castle cooked up by candyman's guile.
A tower built in Baronial style.
Squint for a glimpse of zigzag smile.
Villas with sweet tooth.

A sheltered aura of geological bed.
The type that has a mountain as head.
Nurturing what Mother Nature has fed.
With a face for all to love.

This poem is an attempt to catch the lighter side of things and the spirit of those that fight for what they believe in....
12/02/2026

This poem is an attempt to catch the lighter side of things and the spirit of those that fight for what they believe in.

It's about the suggested closure of Minehead's Co-Op and Post Office.

Titled:

Minehead Military Co-Up

On TA24 5AZ.
A change of space that some folk dread.
Submissions that the planners pled.
Redevelopment.

One and two built bedroomed flats.
Labelled by the housing stats.
Doilies, tea and welcome mats.
Fixed-line telephones.

Sculpted land shapes outdoor spaces.
A joy to young and ageing faces.
Waging war when not at races.
Workforce underdogs.

Armed to teeth with hot cross bun.
French baton and pricing gun.
Struggle's on but battle's won.
Unfinished sympathy.

Can deliveroo climb up the stairs?
To focus group with questionnaires.
Meetings that the mighty chairs.
Exceeding expectation.

The merge of two to make one shop.
Orders straight from very top.
Co-Offices or The Post-Op?
Rebrand spanking new.

Trooping colours of white and blue.
Of galvanising workplace crew.
Birthing Minehead Military Co-Up.
As shop turns into fort.

Minehead #8This about a folkloric tale that connects both land and sea then once a year parades through town metaphoric...
08/02/2026

Minehead #8

This about a folkloric tale that connects both land and sea then once a year parades through town metaphorically chucking the local community on board to join the journey.

Some find it confusing whilst it scares the s**t from others.

I think it's magic.

THE SAILOR'S SILENT H

A lifeless sack that bursts to life.
Expanding tales of wise old wife.
Protagonist of merry strife.
And playful phobias.

The people line like shipping fleet.
To horse that dances down the street.
Traditionally, on repeat.
Annual celebration.

A prop that measures 8ft long.
Swimming past observing throng.
The old mans dead horse shanty song.
May Day holiday.

At start of summer, horse emerges.
Sailing seas and hopping hedges.
The focal point where town converges.
A folly without fillies.

The perils of happy 'obby 'oss.
A rear end led by upfront boss.
With hindered flaps of albatross.
Persevering pressure.

The chants from local gleeful gums.
Accordions and thumping drums.
Passing pubs with choice of rums.
4 left hapless hooves.

Sharing tales for worse or better.
Knitted as a fisher's sweater.
Donating noise of H, the letter.
To thing called 'alloween.

MINEHEAD #7This poem sets an historical scene that attempts to connect Minehead with what was happening elsewhere in th...
01/02/2026

MINEHEAD #7

This poem sets an historical scene that attempts to connect Minehead with what was happening elsewhere in the country in the 17th century.

A scene that I believe enabled the painting of Susan Leakey in a negative light.

Inspired by a local ghost story and Peter Marshall's research into the subject.

Titled:

The Making of a Minehead Ghost

Whispered words as Minehead moots.
Delivering dilution.
The planting of religious roots.
On back of revolution.

In times of war and witches.
Through reign of Charles the 1st.
Hypothetical forked pitches.
Armed with King's bloodthirst.

A town tunes into blarney.
Under broadleaf trees.
On topographic sarnie.
Filled with land and seas.

The presence of Mother Leakey.
Felt throughout the house.
On floors that time made creaky.
Where souls of dead pronounce.

Her death in 1634.
Whipped up quite the storm.
Has someone tried to settle score?
Inspired outwith the norm.

Eerily cloaked in jet black gowns.
A spooky Somerset spectre.
As whistling of a woman drowns.
The smoke in mirror detector.

Roped to harbour's clutching cleat.
On stage of Quay Town coast.
With robe that covers floating feet.
Completes costume of ghost.

Minehead #6 When I first noticed these decorative plaques stretched across Minehead's promenade, I thought they were co...
22/01/2026

Minehead #6

When I first noticed these decorative plaques stretched across Minehead's promenade, I thought they were covering up a bodged job, either holes dug for draining excess sea water or lighting that didn't work.

After a bit of research I'm pleased it wasn't.

THE SCALLOP STRETCH

Scallop succession of mollusc kin.
Outside Butlins where trail begins.
The secrets under metal skin.
Augmenting real-life postcards.

Wish you were here, counting plaques.
Learning of legends, myths and facts.
Joys of following interactive tracks.
The pilgrims percipience.

Minehead's one mile maritime path.
With 500 scallops that promenade hath.
Soothes like all-weather needle bath.
And plein-air gallery.

Impressions embedded on ground we walk.
Inspiring sights and tea flask talk.
En route to harbour via Jubilee Clock.
Adjacent to littoral sea.

Pan-seared, smoked or grilled as main.
Chef refined or cooking plain.
Good for heart and function of brain.
The pros of exploration.

Formed from marine grade stainless steel.
Sculpted for that handmade feel.
To whom that public arts appeal.
On creative edge of Exmoor.

In place where faux scallop dwells.
With tales that local folklore tells.
Propelled by the snap of shells.
Clapping all together.

Minehead #5The relationship between consumers and the humble shop front window.MINEHEAD WINTRY WINDOWS
10/12/2025

Minehead #5

The relationship between consumers and the humble shop front window.

MINEHEAD WINTRY WINDOWS

An attempt to capture the festive spirit of Minehead townsfolk during the Christmas lights switch-on.
03/12/2025

An attempt to capture the festive spirit of Minehead townsfolk during the Christmas lights switch-on.

A brief look at how history, geography and the present can be connected by roots.
27/11/2025

A brief look at how history, geography and the present can be connected by roots.

Originally about the Minehead Marker itself but after being curious as to what became of the college student that design...
21/11/2025

Originally about the Minehead Marker itself but after being curious as to what became of the college student that designed the sculpture, I got sidetracked.

It pleased me to discover that Sarah continued on a creative path.

The poem is about how physical paths intertwine with the career and life paths we choose.

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Minehead

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