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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
...all about me and my life in words. I write most days, carrying an ideas book around in which I capture a word snapshot of life around me. So there's a lot here about Sussex and the sea and anything else I see that inspires.
The pictures are mine too. Some taken to match a poem; some poems written to match a pic; others chosen because they work well with words written.
Jemverse is life in words. Hope you enjoy the reading as much as I enjoy the writing...