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)

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

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]

Drusillas

We went down to Drusillas
for our anniversary
four of us this time, Bezza
Sally, Grace and me
There were parties of schoolchildren
but we made an escape bid
and marched on up ahead of them
so from the masses hid

Sal and I as senior citizens
got cheaper entry too
First time to take advantage
just for asking, as you do
And we made sure that we got there
when it opened on the dot
As that’s always best on days like this
especially when it’s hot

We saw marmosets and meercats
and penguins and anteaters
and goats and little horses
beavers, otters and some cheetahs
Capybara munching breakfast
Monkeys resting on their knees
some really laid back lemurs
and coatis climbing trees

It really was a special day
and we’re really pleased we came
As Drusillas is fantastic
and never quite the same
There’s always something different
to capture imagination
so it’s somewhere we return to
as it holds such fascination.

©Jemverse

Photo – laid back black lemur – Drusillas zoo park, Alfriston, Sussex – Jempics

 

40

Forty years ago today
I put my white suit on
The one I bought for twenty quid
in Jayson’s Menswear from
And the only tie I think I had
was a black one from my Dad
and a pair of his old shoes
I’d kept since I was just a lad

My best man Josse was with me
and he did his best I think
to help me look presentable
albeit with a wink
And then when we were ready
we walked down Ashby Road
to meet up with the others
from our single room abode

I was just over twenty
but in my heart I really knew
that love had spoken loud
and clear – this was the thing to do
So Sal and I were married
on the seventh of July
And today we celebrate the fact
of forty years gone by

A ruby anniversary
but far more precious is than that
the love that both of us still share
undeniably a fact
So these words are for my soulmate
repeated here anew
Three words I said both then and now
the adage “I love you”

©Jemverse

Photo – Jem & Sal on their wedding day; Saturday 7 July 1979, Loughborough

39

Back in nineteen seventy-nine
all those years ago
With me in white, my bride in blue
we walked in sunshine slow
A promise made, sealed with a kiss
the entourage they laughed
and in that moment, with applauds
we were wed at last

A love that sparked with smear of clay
grew stronger every year
The laughter stayed, the children came
to fill our lives with cheer
Now almost forty years have passed
yet still in love are we
Thirty-nine upon this day
Our anniversary

©Jemverse

Photo – Jem (of Jemverse) and his soulmate Sal on their wedding day – 7 July 1979 

300

Jemverse the blog began in April
Twenty fourteen, on a whim
And three hundred postings later
Continues daily with a grin

The writings though, they started
Forty years ago it seems
But several thousand poems later
I’m still daily writing reams

So here’s to the next 300 posts
The life in words I hope they’ll bring
Jemverse continues daily
For there’s still a song to sing

©Jemverse

[Today – 28 December 2014 – marks my 300th posting on Jemverse]