I set out to walk the lanes that lace the borough as it stands;
an arbitrary area whose border nature countermands.
On Threaphurst Lane in heavy rain it seemed an idiotic plan
but Primrose Lane on Mellor Moor found me a truly happy man.
On Love Lane, Tenement and Mill Lane, Occupiers, Banks and Brown
I sought the solid vestiges of townships in the modern town; on…

Dean Lane, Jackson, Bridge and New Bridge; Bramhall, Hempshaw, Sparth and Sandy;
Lisburne, Pingate, Garners, Nursery; Woods and Acre; Bents and Finney;
Lime Kiln, Ack Lane, Cote Green, Andrew; Moor and Smithy; Hollins Lane;
on Dooley, Hampstead, Battle, Hibbert; Grove and Pole, and Laurel End;
on Swann Lane, Heaton, Half Moon; Bruntwood; Foden, Shepley, Hall and Green.
A thousand feet above sea level I saw views I’d never seen.

On, to Beech Lane, Springwood, Tangshutts; Cross Lane, Patch and Bradshaw Hall.
To Lumb Lane, Longsight, Burnage, Redhouse; Chicken, Dye and Castle Farm;
and Dark Lane, Sandhill, Daniel’s, Podnor; Dairy House and Holiday.
To Cow Lane, Gypsy, Robins, Rollins; Gird and Billy’s; Rosemary.
To Ley Lane, Wood Lane, Torkington; to Jenny Lane, and Rose and Moss.
In autumn sun, off Black Lane, I saw Wesley’s monolithic cross.

On, to Guywood, Woodsmoor, Pymgate; Chapel, Lowndes, and Barlow Lane;
Hall Acres and Henbury, and Poleacre and Councillor.
To Chatterton and Blackberry; to Lingard Lane and Daisy Bank;
to Pinfold, Boarfold, Hatherlow; to Sandfold Lane and Long Croft Lane;
to Fieldhouse, Bolshaw Farm and Webb; to Bowden, Priory and Spath;
A and B road; unadopted; sett and cinder; limestone foot path.

On, to Strawberry, Longley, Griffin, Reddish, Rutters, Buxton Lane;
to Windmill Lane and Water Meetings; Offerton and Bramhall Moor;
to Blossoms Lane and Turncroft Lane; to Gotherage and Adswood Lane
and Barlow’s, Old Hall, Hall Moss, George Lane; Old Wool, Longhurst, Bowerfold.
On Benches Lane and Whetmorhurst, on Turner, Ernocroft and Rush,
coughing motors did not care for solitude and took the hush.

On, to Thornley; Kitt’s Moss Lane; to Hollinwood and Berrycroft;
to Brookside, Parkside, Old School, Old Mill; Suttons Lane and Dialstone.
To Nab Lane, Gibb Lane, Stitch and Denby; Three Acres and Cherry Tree;
to New Moor, Moreton, Townscliffe, High Lane; Longshut Lane and Park and Church;
to Lapwing, Weaver’s, South and Ash Brook; Ford’s and Hurstheads; Mile End.
I sought them all methodically whenever I had time to spend.

I’d walk all day from place to place until my faithful feet were sore
and every time I checked the map I always seemed to notice more;
a narrow line; a rash of dashes printed where a stapled fold
obscured connections wrought by those whose storied lives are seldom told;
whose industry and ambit left a web of telling names and ways
I came to see as crazing in the borough’s green and aged glaze.

I doubt this will be of interest to those who don't know Stockport - possibly even to those who do. Nonetheless, I thought I'd post it and see what comes back.