A poem for my mother who passed during Covid and Dad who went into a home with dementia.
Thou art thyself such a Juliet, tis how you started life,
for he, a Romeo, called up to you and took you for his wife
From a whistle at your window-ledge, to a lifetime guarantee,
a young love so wrapped up in each, it chose your destiny,
A love story so beautiful and then motherhood so blessed,
you made your life of loving him and feathered well your nest.
You gave your life to him alone, then shared it with us all,
you gave us all you had to give, and then you offered more
You shaped us into what was right and how we should behave,
then gave us faith in who we are and sent us on our way
We flew your nest to make you proud, embracing what life brings,
knowing you were always there, the wind beneath our wings
Your tale of love continued, its romance grew in wealth,
your stoic pledge of love to him, in sickness and in health
We’re sorry that you suffered, as we never saw your tears,
you slowly lost your only love, as he faded through the years
And now your nest is empty, not because that we have left,
but because you’re flame no longer burns, it leaves us so bereft.
Alas, now my love, our Juliet, ‘tis time thou leave our care,
we’ll take good care of Romeo and wilt not forget you’re there
And from thy balcony now my love, we have but just one request,
you sleep in peace and wait for him, tis but time for thee to rest.
Wherefore art thou now fair maid, you may sit upon your ledge,
gaze down once more at him again, for thou hast fulfilled thy
wedding pledge.
Music Holds the Key
BY JOHN PLATTEN
“One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.” (Bob Marley)
On the jukebox of my youth,
the records that lit the way.
In faith, hope, joy and truth,
my tunes from yesterday.
A life’s personal hit parade,
echo down the years.
Memories they made,
return to quell my fears.
With the present fading fast
lyrics and rhythm sustain,
connections to my past,
for me to play again.
Songs unlock the past for me,
music holds the key.
It’s a Cat’s Life
BY VIVIEN FOULKES-JAMES
If you see me on the street
I’m one cool cat, can’t stop to speak.
I’m on important business
sniffing out, whose been where,
if any cat’s on my patch
I’ll just fix ‘em with a stare.
There’s a new cat on the block
a tabby from No. 29,
He’ll soon know who’s top cat
and we’ll get along just fine.
Hunting is my game
I’m a killer, that’s for sure,
I take my victims home you see
and then go back for more.
I have an alter ego, and
once through my own back door,
I like hugs and strokes and kisses
no more tough guy anymore.
I know I’m just adorable,
my coat is always gleaming,
“Aah my beautiful boy,” she coos
and pretty soon I’m dreaming …
But if you see me on the street
I’m one cool cat, can’t stop to speak