43

Forty-three years ago
nineteen seventy-nine
two soulmates in love
their lives they combined
and we've never looked back
from that lovely day
as our love has grown deeper
it's quite true to say
Two kindred spirits 
we soulmates as one
raise a glass here today
for more years of fun

©Jemverse

Photo – Jem and Sal Croucher, 7-7-1979 – James Newbold

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Pearl

Thirty years ago today
two star-crossed lovers wed
and as years passed their love it grew
throughout the life they led
So to celebrate their special day
a pearl of best persuasion
for this their anniversary 
befits this grand occasion

©Jemverse

Photo – Wikipedia (edited)

48 years

Nineteenth February time after time
and though 48 years, still etched in my mind
that overcast day and the falling from grace
from a knock at the door and a slap in the face
snatched the father away from the boy of fifteen
who in formative years was the worst kind of mean
and though time has healed the wound is still raw
so on this day every year he remembers and more
as he still sees him clear in his mind's eye and knows
that despite passing years the love never goes

©Jemverse

Photo – John Alan Croucher (10/5/1935 to 19/2/1974) – Jempics

Forty-four Valentines

Forty-four valentines sent on this day
to the same person one love to stay
my best friend and soulmate hip hip hooray
married for forty-three years

Forty-four valentines all made by hand
with words I have crafted, all of them planned
to repeat oft the promise sealed with gold band
throughout all the joy and the tears

Forty-four valentines sent here to you
my one love my constant my true upon true
with many more coming before we are through
this one's for you with three cheers

©Jemverse

Photo – James Newbold

Married on a birthday

Went to a birthday party
in Surrey, Saturday night
took us a while to get there
but that was quite alright

Loud cheers when we got there
the celebrations had begun
so we hurried there to join them
so we'd not miss out the fun

And we found the cheers had purpose
for the birthday and for now
as my brother had got married
on his birthday with a vow

Charles and Geoff now family proper
overjoyed does not come close
celebrating birthday marriage
on this day to juxtapose

I am a proud and elder brother
this is the best news in a while
exuberant jubilation
evident within my smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Emily Rose Croucher – Charles & Geoff Croucher/Hack

42

Things have changed a little
here in Worthing over time
as there was no big wheel here
back in nineteen seventy-nine

Forty-two years passed since then
yet we two still are here
soulmates then and soulmates now
in our forty-second year

They say that love grows stronger over time
well, we'll attest to that
as here we are still holding hands
a total truth in fact

Yes, some things change as years go by
but forever me and you
forty-two years wed and and still
a love steadfast and true

©Jemverse

Photo – Mr and Mrs C – 42 years on – Worthing, July 2021

For Pops

Look at me now Pops, I’m an older man now
I’m past sixty, the years have flown by
That slap in the face
has long turned to grace
yet still on this day I will cry

Nineteenth of February nineteen seventy-four
etched in my mind for all time
The day that you left
leaving family bereft
although all these years later we’re fine

Just four of us left now, Mum with you now
We are older and wiser and free
Yet still we recall
as the years pass and fall
with that promise that one day we’ll see

So this one’s for you Pops, this day I remember
once a year with a glass in the air
As with happiness here
with you share a beer
and the memories happily share

©Jemverse

In loving memory of my father – John Alan Croucher (10/5/34 to 19/2/74)

Forty-three Valentines

Forty-three valentines I have now sent
to my one true love every year
Our love it grows stronger
and may it live longer
I trust as I hold her so dear

And we have been wed forty-two of those years
Soulmates, we two are entwined
So here now from me
here is forty-three
Will you please be my Valentine?

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics; ‘Heart-stone’ driftwood sculpture – Jemdrift

41

The suit I’d purchased for twenty-five quid
all I could afford at the time
just after my twentieth birthday
my life waiting there on the line

The tie was one of my fathers’
as were the shoes on my feet
His passing was five years too early
to see his son’s wedding complete

Now forty-one years have surrendered
themselves to the life we have led
since that day way back in seventy-nine
when Sally and Jeremy wed

And our love it grows ever stronger
kindred soulmates we are both as one
our life just one big adventure
since that day when it was begun

©Jemverse

Sal & Jem’s wedding day – 7th July 1979 [Photo: Josse Davis – Jem’s best man]

19 February 1974

The knock at the door
I remember it well
though forty-six years have now passed
The vicar right there
with something to share
for a slap in the face that would last

It was anger I felt
with a fist in the air
that my father had left in that way
And I heard not a sound
from that hole in the ground
as I stood on that February day

It’s a picture I have
that years never fade
A boy of fifteen there bereft
Not a word of a lie
quite unable to cry
in spite of the void that was left

But thankfully time
the healer of ills
has mellowed the anger to love
And the man of those years
can now shed the tears
as he thinks of his father above

The slap in the face
has turned to a hug
lingering, precious and mine
and though there’s still sadness
there’s also a gladness
with his memory shared at this time

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[In loving memory of my father – John Alan Croucher – 10/5/34 to 19/2/74]