A Collection of Poems and Short Stories
Irene. M. Crane
Contents Poems for Children Freddie the Frog……...........................Page 2 Oh, Butterfly…………..........................Page 3 Halloween……………………………........Page 4 School Days…………………………........Page 5 The Snowman………………..................Page 7 My Birthday…………………………….....Page 8 Painting………………………………........Page 10 Humphrey..........................................Page 11 Stories for Children The Little Shy Squirrel…....................Page 13 Mary’s Birthday Present………………..Page 18 Skip…………………………………….......Page 25 The Lost Baby Rabbit…………………...Page 30 Amanda Anne and the Upside Down Umbrella…….................Page 35 The Tree Fairies..................................Page 39
Poems for Grown-ups The Simple Things…………..................Page 44 Do You Remember?............................Page 45 Sunlight………………………………........Page 47 Flower Power………………………….......Page 49 Tribute to Roundhill Flower Club……..Page 51 For my First Born……………………......Page 52 When………………………………….........Page 53
Poems for Children
1
Freddie the Frog Freddie the Frog went out for a swim Toad spied upon him and so he jumped in “I know,” said the Toad, “I’ve got an idea Let’s see who’s the fastest to swim from just here.” So they started together to have a great race The water was swirling all over the place Neddy the Newt laughed aloud with such glee And said to them both “let’s make the race three.” All three swam together as fast as could be And a little brown squirrel sat high in a tree Even a mole peeped out of his hole He ran very quickly to Vicky the vole. And all of them cheered and wondered who’d win The shouting and clapping created a din “Well! Mr. Mole” said Vicky the vole “It’s a good job you came out of your hole” “I think Toad will win easily” “Oh no he won’t” came a shout from a tree “Freddie is faster of that I am sure” “No, the newt is fastest” said the mole with a roar! But nobody won, they tied in the race So Freddie and Toad and the Newt won first place! 2
Oh, Butterfly Oh, butterfly, you lovely thing With pretty markings on your wing You fly so freely in the sun And disappear as night draws on. From a chrysalis you unfurled Slowly still with wings uncurled You stretched and flew into the sky All alone I saw you fly The flowers with their petals bright Await the pleasure of your flight Upon their heads of every hue They welcome you with drops of dew. The buddleia, called the butterfly bush Begs you stay, no need to rush, And would the summer days be long They’d be no need to hurry on Fly on pretty thing, be free, be free, From flower to flower, from bush to tree.
3
Halloween Tis the night of Halloween And all the house is creaking The witch upon her broomstick’s seen And the owls are loudly screeching. The spiders hang in ghostly webs And the moon gives little light The trees are dark and menacing And scary is the night The witches chant and make their brew The black cat sits close by And on the night of Halloween They ascend into the sky. But come tomorrow they’ll be gone They will not reappear For they will stay in hiding Till Halloween next year.
4
School Days I go to school each morning I must be there by nine And when I hear the whistle blow We have to stand in line. And then we march together To hang our coats on hooks The teacher calls the register Whilst we get out our books. All the children go together Into the Hall to sing And say our prayers to Jesus And thanks for everything. Halfway through the morning It’s time once more to play We run around and race about At half past ten each day. Once more we hear the whistle blow And that’s the end of play We learn to paint, to read and write And model things out of clay. 5
Our Teacher’s very clever She tells good stories too Oh! It’s fun to go to school There’s lovely things to do. If we paint a pretty picture Teacher hangs it on the wall And if it’s very special Then she puts it in the Hall Very soon it’s half-past three And time for us to go But we’ll come back tomorrow We all like school you know.
6
The Snowman I had a friend all cold and white Who disappeared just overnight Three foot high my friend was too With coal black eyes and scarf of blue. A battered hat upon his head That once belonged to Uncle Fred My daddy’s pipe I borrowed too I made a mouth and pushed it through. I wonder where my Snowman’s gone Without his scarf and hat upon I found them lying on the ground with pools of water all around. Mummy said he didn’t go And that all Snowmen made of snow Though hard and cold and gleaming white Just melt slowly overnight. Oh, never mind, perhaps next year When the ice and frost and snow is here I’ll make another Snowman, though I hope next year my friend won’t go. 7
My Birthday A whole year I have waited And now today I’m ten It really seems so funny To not be nine again. My Mummy’s got a parcel It’s from my Daddy too Hooray! It is a football With boots all clean and new. Boxing gloves from Aunty Jane A game from Uncle Ben It’s great to be a boy of nine But better when you’re ten. Today it is my birthday And my Mummy’s made for me A lovely cake with icing on And jellies for our tea.
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All my friends are coming And they’re excited too Birthdays are exciting days I like them so, do you? The Postman’s at the letter box With birthday cards for me Hooray! He’s got a parcel too Whatever can it be? It’s what I’ve always wanted A real electric train That runs upon a twisting track Round and back again.
9
Painting There’s something that I really like And very often do Paint bold coloured pictures And pretty patterns too. Inside my magic paint box There’s red and blue and green Yellow, purple, brown and black Grey and tangerine. When it’s time to finish My Mummy comes to see And asks me why I painted All the colours over me. It’s very, very funny But I must admit it’s true My hands are sometimes green and red, My dress gets spotted too. I even get some on my nose And when I go to look I find I’ve got more paint on me Than in my painting book!
10
Humphrey Humphrey is a black cat with very shiny fur And if you stroke him gently he will loudly purr. He is very very gentle with pink and lovely paws. He wouldn’t even hurt you with a bite or with his claws. By day he’s rather lazy, sleeping in his bed Until he knows it’s getting near to when he should be fed. But night time comes with darkness and when we are asleep He will go a hunting and very softly creep. He has gone a mousing, so mice just beware He will take you home and place you on his master’s chair.
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Stories for Children
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The Little Shy Squirrel
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The Little Shy Squirrel There was a family of squirrels that lived in the top of a tree. The littlest one was a very shy squirrel and he would not come down the tree, he was too afraid.
So his mummy and daddy had a little thought, and they decided to tell him that all the other squirrels were poorly. They decided to tell him that Mummy and Daddy were poorly and all the other squirrels were poorly and there was no way that any of them could go down the tree and find some acorns for breakfast. The Shy Squirrel went to his mummy and daddy and said “Wake up, wake up, I’m hungry! I want my breakfast!” “I’m very sorry” Mummy squirrel said “we are very poorly and all of your brothers and sisters are poorly too. We can’t climb down into the big world to find some acorns.” 14
Well, the Shy Squirrel was not very happy. Time went by and it was now lunchtime and he was beginning to feel very hungry! And so he went to his mummy and daddy and asked “Are you feeling any better? I’m very hungry, I want something to eat!” And the Mummy and Daddy squirrel said “No, we do not feel any better and don’t go and ask your brothers and sisters to go and get you something to eat as they need some rest because there are still not very well either.” “Oh dear!” Thought the Shy Squirrel, “this is a horrid day, nobody to talk to, nobody to play with and I’m really hungry and nobody will get me anything to eat!” Time went by and now it was late afternoon, and the Shy Squirrel returned to his Mummy and Daddy and said “Now I’m very, very hungry! Are you feeling any better? Could you go and get me some acorns please?” And Daddy Squirrel replied “No, I’m very sorry but you’ll have to go down all by yourself.” “Oh dear!” thought the Shy Squirrel “I’ve never been down the tree before! I don’t think I dare go but I’m very, very hungry! So I must try!” 15
So he climbed down very slowly and looked all around and nobody was around. “Well I’m ok, this isn’t too bad” he thought and he started to gather some acorns. He decided to collect lots and lots so he could take them back for his mummy and daddy and brothers and sisters in the tree to help them feel better.
Unbeknown to him, a man and a lady came walking through the woods with their friendly dog. “Oh dear! Oh dear!” said the Shy Squirrel “what do I do now? I’ve never seen anything like that before!” As the man and the lady approached him they said “Oh, look at that dear little squirrel, he’s looking for acorns. Lets be very quiet, we don’t want to frighten him.” So they stood still and watched the squirrel as he scampered back up the tree. The Shy Squirrel said to his mummy and daddy “I’ve brought some acorns for all of us! I’ve been down to the big, big world today and I wasn’t frightened at all!” 16
“Well done!” they laughed as they ate the acorns, “we’ll tell you a secret now. We are not poorly and your brothers and sisters are not poorly, but we knew it was the only way to make you go down the tree and not be afraid of the big, big world anymore!” Now the shy squirrel goes down the tree with his mummy and daddy and his brothers and sisters all the time and he is very happy. He is not afraid anymore! The End
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Mary’s Birthday Present
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Mary’s Birthday Present It was Mary’s eighth birthday. When she woke up in the morning she was so excited, she thought “there is something special about today- what is it?” Then she remembered “Oh yes, I am eight today!” Mary’s mummy came into her bedroom and said “Happy birthday Mary, you are eight years old today! Come along, get up for breakfast and you must get ready for school. Maybe, if you are lucky, the Postman will come before you go to school with some birthday cards for you.” Mary quickly got dressed and hurried downstairs for breakfast. When she went into the kitchen she was very excited as she saw the beautiful birthday cake that her mummy had made for her and it had eight candles on. Then she saw lots of jellies, blamanches, biscuits and lots of other lovely things ready for her party in the afternoon. Just before she left for school, there was a rat-a-tattat at the door. Mary rushed to the door and it was the Postman! “Good morning Mary,” said the Postman “it must be your birthday today, I have a letter and present and lots of birthday cards for you!” 19
“Thank you very much” said Mary as she went into the kitchen to open them. She opened the present first and it was a beautiful dolly from her Aunty, then she opened all of her wonderful birthday cards. She opened the letter last of all and it was from her Grandma and as she opened it, a ten pound note fell out! Her Grandma had written “I’m very sorry that I cannot come to your birthday party but please go with mummy to the toyshop and buy whatever you would like with your birthday money.” Oh I’ll have to think about what to buy, thought Mary, but I have got to go to school now and maybe when Mummy picks me up she could take me into the village to the toyshop before my party starts. So Mary went to school and she found it very hard to concentrate on what the teacher was saying because she was so excited. She was really looking forward to her party because all of her friends were coming and going to eat all the lovely treats her Mummy had made. But most of all she was excited about going to the toyshop and spending her birthday money from her Grandma. After school, Mary’s Mummy met her at the school gates in the car “Hop in Mary let’s go to the toyshop and spend your birthday money.”
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When they arrived at the toyshop Mary looked in the window and on a glass shelf, right at the very top, there was a teddy bear. It was a very sad looking teddy bear, it was scruffy and had an eye missing and had been in the toyshop for a very long time.
“I really would like that teddy bear” said Mary. “Good gracious Mary, you don’t want that raggedytaggety old bear do you?” replied Mary’s Mummy. “I do! I really, really like him and he looks so sad and I’d like to buy him and give him a good home where he will be happy.” said Mary. “Well then, we’d better go inside and see how much he costs.” said Mummy. They went into the toyshop and there was a little old man that was the shopkeeper. “Hello Mary,” said the Shopkeeper “is it a special day today?” “Yes!” said Mary, “It is my eighth birthday! And my Grandma has sent me ten pounds and has told me to come to the shop and buy anything I would like. And I know what I would like.” 21
“What is that?” said the Shopkeeper “That poorly looking, old teddy bear that is sitting on the top shelf in the window.” said Mary “You would like him!” said the Shopkeeper “He has been there a very long time, the shelf is very dusty and the teddy bear is too! Is that really what you would like Mary?” “Yes, I would really like him, please” said Mary. “Ok,” said the Shopkeeper “He should be quite a lot of money but I will let you buy him for five pounds!” “Thank you” said Mary, “will you put him in a bag for me?” Mary paid the shopkeeper and took her teddy bear home. At home Mary asked her Mummy if they could clean the dusty old teddy bear to try and make him nice and fresh and new again. Mary’s Mummy said they could try but Mary had to have her party first! Mary had forgotten about her party in all the excitement of getting her teddy bear. Then there was a knock at the door and it was all of her friends coming for her birthday party. They all had a lovely time, especially the birthday girl. Her friends had brought her some wonderful presents, they played lots of fun games and ate lots of delicious treats. 22
After the party, Mary said goodbye to all of her friends and was very tired and went to bed, taking her teddy bear with her. Just before she fell asleep, she said to the teddy bear “Tomorrow, me and Mummy are going to wash you and make you look brand new. And with the five pounds I have left from the money that Grandma gave me, I am going to take you to the dolly’s hospital. The dolly’s hospital mends all kinds of dollies and soft toys, sewing arms back on and put new hair into dollies that have lost theirs. We can ask them to give you a new eye so you can have two eyes instead of one!” Well, thought the teddy bear, I’m very happy Mary is going to make me brand new again! The next day, Mary took the teddy bear to the dolly’s hospital. They said “Oh! That is a lovely teddy bear but the poor little thing only has one eye. Let us see if we can find another one exactly the same to match.” They searched through the box of spare eyes and found one exactly the same! They sewed on the new eye to the teddy bear and made the teddy bear all complete. The teddy bear was so happy and Mary was sure that he smiled at her to say thank you.
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Now the Teddy bear was brand new again and very happy indeed. “I am going to call you Bruce!” Mary said. Mary loved Bruce very much, she took him everywhere with her and he slept in her bed every night. Mary thought about all the lovely things that she had got for her eighth birthday and said to Bruce “You were my very best present of them all!”
The End
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Skip
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Skip Janet’s garden backed on to a big field. And in the field there was lots of blackberries. One day Janet’s mummy asked Janet if she would go and pick some blackberries for her. She said she would give Janet a basket and asked her to go and fill it up with juicy blackberries so that they could make some blackberry jam. “Of course Mummy, I’ll go and pick some when I come home from school. Do you think Skip would like to go with me?” said Janet Skip was Janet’s dog. He was black with brown patches and had big ears. When he heard Janet ask this he pricked his ears up and wagged his tail. I would love to go, he thought. When Janet came home from school she took the basket, her favourite dolly and Skip the dog over the garden fence and into the field. “Be sure to come home safely before it gets dark Janet” shouted her Mother. “I will” replied Janet “Come on Skip, lets go and find some blackberries.” 26
Janet reached a bush and there were so many lovely ripe and juicy blackberries she began to fill up her basket. She was having a lovely time and Skip was having a lovely time too, he was wagging his tail and running around “blackberrying is fun,” they both thought. Then Janet tried to pick some blackberries that were a little too high for her to reach. So she put down her dolly on the grass so she could stretch that little bit farther to reach them. Then she felt a spot of rain on her cheek, then another and then another. The rain was getting heavier so Janet decided to go and shelter under a nearby tree. She forgot all about her dolly that she had put down on the grass and her dolly was getting very wet and cold out in the rain. After a while Janet realised that it was getting dark. “Oh no!” she said “Mummy said I must be back before it gets dark.” She got up from under the tree and ran home very fast because she did not have an umbrella and was getting very wet in the rain. “Come on Skip, let’s go. We must be back before it gets dark or else mummy will be very cross!” 27
When they arrived home they were both completely wet-through from the rain. They had made it home before it got dark and had picked lots of juicy blackberries so Janet’s mummy was very happy. “Thank you” she said “we can make some lovely jam with these. Now sit down and have your tea, I’ve made a boiled egg and some scones.” Janet was very hungry as she had been outside in the fresh air all afternoon and ate up all of her dinner. As Janet was getting ready for bed she started to cry. “Janet, why are you crying?” asked her mother. “I’ve left my dolly all alone in the grass in the field! I put her down whilst I reached for some blackberries and I forgot all about her. She will be shivering with the cold, I’m really worried about her. I might never get her back!” Skip the dog overheard Janet crying because she had left her dolly and because he was a very clever dog he went to the back door and scratched until mummy let him out. Then off he ran, down the back garden, over the fence and across the field. He knew exactly where Janet had left her dolly and picked her up in his mouth and carried her carefully back to the house and dropped her at Janet’s feet. 28
“Oh Skip, you are such a clever dog! Thank you so much. Now I can take her to bed and sleep happily all night” cried Janet. “Well done Skip” said Mummy, “All is well that ends well. Goodnight Mary.”
The End
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The Lost Baby Rabbit
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Baby Rabbit and Shopping Day. It was Mrs Rabbit’s shopping day and Baby Rabbit hated going shopping with his Mummy. “Come along,” said Mrs Rabbit “we need to get lots of things.” Baby Rabbit was feeling tired and hungry and definitely did not want to go shopping with his mummy. Mrs Rabbit looked out of the window and the weather looked cold and windy. “I’ll put an extra scarf in my shopping bag” she thought. “so if it starts to rain I can put it over my head so I do not get wet. I’ll put an extra one in for baby rabbit as well.” Reluctantly, Baby Rabbit held his mummy’s hand and off they went to the shops. The first shop they went into was the Grocer, “Good morning Mrs Rabbit. Good morning Baby Rabbit, how are you today?” “I’m very tired,” said Baby Rabbit. “Well it is very early,” replied the Grocer, “What would you like today Mrs Rabbit?” Whilst Mrs Rabbit and the Grocer were getting together all the things Mrs Rabbit needed, Baby Rabbit was becoming very restless. 31
He was wandering round the shop thinking “I am very tired and want to go home. I know I’ll climb in Mummy’s basket.” So Baby Rabbit climbed into the basket, snuggled underneath the extra scarves his mummy had put in there in case it rained, and went fast asleep! A while later, after Mrs Rabbit had done all of the shopping, she called for Baby Rabbit, “Come on Baby Rabbit, where are you? It’s time to go home.” There was no answer from Baby Rabbit so she looked all over the shop and he was nowhere to be found! “Oh my Goodness!” said Mrs Rabbit, “Where has he gone? He must have gone out into the street and wandered off! Oh no! Please come and help me find Baby Rabbit,” she said to the Grocer. So they both went outside and the first shop they went into was the Post Office. “Please Mr Postman, have you seen a Baby Rabbit any where?” “No,” he replied, “I have not seen a baby rabbit anywhere. Why, what is the problem?” “My Baby has gone missing!” she cried. “Oh no!” said the Postman, “I will come and help you find him.” 32
So the three of them, Mrs Rabbit, the Grocer and the Postman, walked down the road and they met the Policeman. “Mr Policeman, have you seen a baby rabbit anywhere?” “No, I am sorry, I have not seen a baby rabbit. Why, what is the problem?” replied the Policeman. “Well, it’s my baby rabbit,” sobbed Mrs Rabbit “He is lost! I was in the Grocer’s doing my shopping and he must have gone out of the door without me seeing him and now I don’t know where he is!” “Well, I will help you look for him,” said the Policeman. So the four of them, Mrs Rabbit, the Grocer, the Postman and the Policeman, start walking down the road looking for Baby Rabbit. Then they saw the Window Cleaner. “Excuse me, have you seen a baby rabbit anywhere on your travels?” “No I am afraid that I have not seen a baby rabbit anywhere. I think that I would have as when I am up high on my ladder I can see everything!” replied the Window Cleaner. “Oh dear!” cried Mrs Rabbit, she was really upset, “where is my baby?” “Let us go back to my shop” said the Grocer, “we can have a sit down and a cup of tea and we can think about what we can do.”
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Then all five of them went back to the shop, Mrs Rabbit, the Grocer, the Postman, the Policeman and the Window Cleaner, and had a think about where Baby Rabbit could be and what they could do next. All of a sudden the saw Mrs Rabbit’s basket start to tremble. “Whatever can that be?” They all went over and looked in the basket and there, underneath the scarves, sleeping soundly was Baby Rabbit. “Oh look! We have found my baby!” exclaimed Mrs Rabbit happily, “What a worry he has caused me.” Mrs Rabbit gently woke up Baby Rabbit and gave him a big cuddle. “You’ve given me such a fright Baby Rabbit, you must never, ever do that again! I’m so glad that we have found you and that you are safe and sound.” The Grocer, the Postman, the Policeman and the Window Cleaner all laughed and laughed, “All’s well that ends well Mrs Rabbit!” And Mrs Rabbit took Baby Rabbit home after a very eventful day at the shops.
The End 34
Amanda-Anne and the Upside Down Umbrella
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Amanda-Anne and the Upside Down Umbrella. Amanda-Anne had two little brothers and a little sister. They all loved each other very much and played happily together. Amanda-Anne was very excited as the Postman had brought a invitation inviting them all to a very special birthday party. The party was in two days time and they all were very exciting and wondering what they would wear and what present they would take to the party. Two days later on the day of the party, Amanda-Anne started to feel very poorly. She had a high temperature and did not feel well at all. “I am very sorry Amanda-Anne,” said her mummy, “you will not be able to go to the party. You are too poorly.” Amanda-Anne cried and cried. Her brothers and sister were all well enough to go but she had to stay at home. In the afternoon whilst her brothers and sister were getting ready to go to the party, Amanda-Anne was in bed feeling very sorry for herself. 36
Her mummy had given her lots of medicine to try and make her feel better but she was so disappointed about missing the party, the medicine didn’t make her feel any better at all. When her brothers and sister were ready to go to the party they looked outside and it was raining quite fast. Mummy said “you must take the big spotty umbrella. We don’t want you to spoil all your nice clothes you are wearing for the party.” The three children went to the party and had a wonderful time and for a little while they forgot all about Amanda-Anne. “Where is Amanda-Anne?” asked the mummy of the birthday girl. “Amanda-Anne is poorly in bed and is feeling very sorry for herself and sad that she wasn’t able to come to the party.” “That will never do” replied the birthday girl’s mummy, “I think we should send some treats back for her from the party. Let’s send some jellies, some little cakes and sandwiches and some sausage rolls back to her. Do you think she will like that? It might make her feel better!” “That’s a very good idea,” they said. “It’s not raining anymore so we will turn the big spotty umbrella upside down and put all of the treats for AmandaAnne in it.” 37
So they went home and carried all of the party treats in the upside down umbrella. When they got home they rushed upstairs and said to Amanda-Anne “you couldn’t go to the party because you were too poorly but we have brought the party back to you!” Then they all climbed into bed with Amanda-Anne and they shared out all of the lovely treats that they had brought back from the party. They told her all about what happened at the party and Amanda-Anne felt so much better. She hadn’t been able to go to the party but AmandaAnne had a little party all of her own!
The End
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The Tree Fairies
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The Tree Fairies Daisy May was a nice little girl who was eight years old. She didn’t have any brothers or sisters and her mummy called her Daisy May because in May the fields are covered in daisies. Daisy May lived with her mummy and daddy in the country and she had a big garden to play in and at the bottom of the garden there was a very old oak tree. Daisy May wasn’t lonely because at the bottom of the garden, on certain days, fairies came out to play with her and they told her to keep it a secret for if she told anybody, the secret would be broken and she would not see them anymore. This wasn’t a problem for Daisy May as she knew that if she told her mummy about the faires her mummy would say “Don’t be silly Daisy May, there are no such things as fairies!” Daisy May was a good little girl, she helped her mummy, she was good at school, she was kind to animals but there was one thing that worried her mummy and daddy. Every week she would have some spending money that she earnt helping out at home and her mummy and daddy knew that she didn’t spend her money wisely, she spent all of it at the sweet shop.
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Now, mostly everybody loves sweets sometimes as a special treat but Daisy May ate far too many and then she wouldn’t eat all of the lovely healthy food that her mummy made for her. She was also getting a bit too fat! Her mummy didn’t know what to do to stop Daisy May but the fairies did and they had a plan that went like this: They danced and sang, Daisy May come out to play You know where we will be We’ll be hiding in our fairy house Hidden in the tree. The fairies had planned a magic tea party and put a spell on the cakes and jellies for they knew full well that Daisy May would eat far too many and she had to learn a hard lesson. After the tea party Daisy May felt tired and had a little sleep and the spell began to work. She grew fatter and fatter and when she woke up she began to cry. “Whatever happened to me?” she cried, “I cannot climb out of the tree that I’m in, I’m much too fat!” The fairies gathered round and sang, We have cast a magic spell But now we’ll set you free We put magic in the jellies And the cakes you ate for tea.
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You must not be a greedy girl Always stop and think I really know I’ve had enough Of things to eat and drink. Daisy May then sang; My Mummy’s right, she loves me so And so I will agree To never be a greedy girl If you will let me free. The fairies cast their magic spell, and Daisy May was free. She shrank into a smaller girl and climbed out of the tree. Well, Daisy May had learned her lesson, she wasn’t greedy anymore and her mummy and her daddy were so pleased to see their little girl eating properly but still occasionally having a sweet. They do not know the secret about the fairy spell. You do and I do and the fairies do and they still come out to play, but no one ever sees them, only Daisy May.
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Poems for Grown-ups. 43
The Simple Things It’s the simple things that matter in life, Like knowing you’re specially loved as a wife, Like being inside when the outside is wild, And kissing away the tears of a child. It’s the smell of the air just after a shower, The bud of a rose before it’s in flower, And seed that you’ve sown showing through the brown earth. The cry of a babe at the moment of birth, The blessed relief when the pain fades away, To feel wide awake on a bright sunny day, Sweet smelling blossom that hangs on the trees, A line of clean washing that dries in the breeze. It’s a letter with news and love from a friend, The gold of a sunset when day’s at it’s end. It’s a house that’s a home where there’s loving and living, The joy of receiving and the pleasure of giving. There are many more things, too many to mention, The best things are simple, twas nature’s intention, And all of her things she gives in good measure. It’s the simple things that give us much pleasure. 44
Do You Remember? Do you remember days long past When everything moved less fast When neighbours talked and really cared And life’s worries were duly shared. When winter days were very cold And summer days were long When you could understand the words When a singer sang his song. Before the days of microwaves, Mobile phones and faxes, CD ROMs and videos, V.A.T and taxes. Microchips and car alarms That go off in the night Houses fixed with sensor lights And doors that are locked up tight. When shopping was a daily task And washing done on a Monday, Tuesday was the ironing day And a day of rest was Sunday.
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When the boys had their hair cut short And girls brushed their tresses And only men wore trousers, The girls wore pretty dresses. When lovers wed in the local church And free sex was not permitted And when the little ones came along, They truly were committed. When swearing words were seldom heard And morals were expected And children listened to the word Of parents who corrected. But now the young folk dress in black Down at the heel and dreary Let’s try to bring some colour back To look both bright and cheery. If you remember all these things your youth has long been spent But precious are the memories Of the days that came and went.
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For my brother when he was ill.
To the Therapist If nothing more I cannot be, If this is all that’s left of me, And if no more I can create, And I am left to vegetate, Remember this of me. That once within my human frame, I was alive, My working brain would work incessantly. And now the body that I’m in, Useless, lifeless, pale and thin, Begs to come alive again, With moving limbs discharged from pain Can it ever be? Help me please, show the light, Give me the strength to win the fight, To you I give my hope, my trust, I must get well, I must, I must, Please help me to be free. Take pity on this crumbling heap, Awaken me from my long sleep, Tis’ time to follow you my friend, Time to begin, not time to end, At last, I see, I see.
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Sunlight A shaft of light through leaded windows shone To catch a bowl of roses and cast her warmth upon And on the copper kettle the sunlight cast her beam It made the polished table with a special brightness gleam. But the brightness through the window pane Came with the sun to go again The warmth within would always stay Twas the warmth of loving and laughing and play. The fire with it’s flickering flames The children playing with their games The old settee and rocking chair A host of welcome waiting there. A place of no propriety But my home and sanctuary.
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Flower Power Years ago a certain lass, Decided to join an evening class. She had tried very hard to improve her mind And now felt the need of a different kind. Physcology, Graphology and Creative Writing Were all very deep but not very exciting. Art, it was never her greatest feature Until she met a certain teacher. Very uncertain of where she would start At her first attempt in floral art She arrived with a flower of a different hue, Red, pink, white, yellow, green and blue. And when it was finished, she had to confess, It looked such a tasteless and unshapely mess. She lifted her head, made a cursory glance And realised that the others were very advanced. Her cheeks were glowing the colour of flame, And she wished she could hide from the moment of shame. The teacher was kind and said “don’t be dismayed Turn up next week- your money, you’ve paid.
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Next week we’ll do a triangular shape, With points, rounds and flats- don’t make the mistake Of bringing flowers of a different hue. It will look much better if you keep it to two”. Well she practised at home, when she was able. There was never food, but flowers on the table. And the following week it began to come right And her cheeks glowed again, but with pride on that night. Now she was inspired and truly hooked And the housekeeping money was frittered on books. The cupboards, once tidy with order and spaces, Became overflowing with pots, drapes and bases. It must be admitted that a strain on the marriage Was caused when it overflowed to the shed and garage Cones, shells, stone and woos became treasures, Along with the ribbons and beads and feathers. Now this lady, considerably older, With passing time has become a bit bolder, She’s made many friends and spent many an hour Discussing the winning ways of FLOWER POWER.
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This poem is a tribute to our flower club
25 years ago a seed was sown And from it’s first leaves it has flourished and grown The soil has been rich and though some flowers have faded The plant is still strong not tired and jaded It gives so much pleasure a thing to behold No longer tiny or timid but BOLD Long may it flourish and still may it grow To burst into flower with more seeds to sow The name of this flower has no Latin name But never-the-less long may it claim To shine in the garden, the border or tub It’s name, The Roundhill Flower and Garden Club.
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For my First Born My precious son you’re now a man You stand there straight and tall Surely it was yesterday I watched you learn to crawl. I’ve watched you walk, I’ve seen you play And as I look at you today I ache a little but my boy Walk along the path with joy. Hand in hand with your sweet wife Leave me son to make your life I wouldn’t wish for any other Than to be your loving mother.
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When When the winter days seem long And the world outside devoid of song Of the garden birds who took their flight To warmer climes with sunshine bright. When all the trees are stark and bare With not a green leaf showing there When the cold brown earth looks ghostly dead With never a flower to show it’s head. When the brain is dead and the body weary, And everyday seems very dreary When life is short on loving and living And you are plagued with many misgivings Remember that soon to follow is spring When the flowers return and the birds will sing And the sunshine’s rays give warmth and light And the time ahead seems very bright For the seasons patterns must unfold To turn the grey days into gold But when the winter trees are bare Lets try to see the beauty there.
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