The House On The Hill

He remembers their first time, in the evening chill
near to the cornfield behind the house on the hill.
Where the old folks live who are lost behind its door
and don’t know where, or who they are any more.

He visits her most days, she often doesn’t know who he is
at the house on the hill, where she now needs to live.
Sometimes she looks at him with a certain look in her eye
and he knows that look and he tries hard not to cry.

He wonders if somewhere behind those troubled eyes
the woman he loved so much somehow still survives.
And just occasionally in a moment of lucid thought
she remembers the times when her life was less fraught.

The time they were young lovers, passionate and free
and so happy to be married in the spring of fifty three.
The children they raised and all their cute little ways
and the sounds of Sinatra and Minnelli, on the airwaves.

He sits in his chair gazing through the window each night
up to the house on the hill, until the last moment of light.
Wondering if she looks down at the place she called home
and if she really knows he still lives there, all alone.

SECOND PLACE

Achieved 2nd place in April Monthly Poetry Contest at Voicesnet.com with my poem
THE OLD VICAR.

A Lifetime Together

How quickly the time has passed
since the day you became my wife.
After all this time it feels as though
we’ve been together all of my life.
They have been mostly good years
the difficulties have been few.
And the best thing I have ever done
is to fall in love with you.

Now we have reached a special time
a celebration of a lifetime together.
We just want our life and love
to go on and just last forever.
You know how much I love you
and what you mean to me.
So I just want to wish you now
a happy anniversary.

(for our ruby wedding)

Achievement

Winning Featured Poet-- with 6 poems on Forward Press.com for MARCH 2011

The Old Vicar

The Old Vicar.

An old man sits on a churchyard bench
with his memories of times long ago.
When he was the Vicar of the church
and the people he’d come to know.

He recalls when he married a couple
on an almost perfect summer’s day.
And how with joy in their young faces
they knelt there before him to pray.

He remembers when he christened twins
who cried the whole ceremony through.
Their mother tried to keep them quiet
but there was nothing she could do.

The church would be full at Christmas
with people standing near the door.
He wondered why they all came
but then didn’t come any more.

And he still remembers the burial
of a young man who died in a car.
Taking his dangerous love of speed
so tragically, a little bit too far.

Near where he sits’ there’s a young boy
kneeling by his Grandmother’s grave.
It’s nearly dark , under a cold wintry sky,
and he’s not really feeling very brave.

The young boy stands with the old man
saying “Grandpa it’s time for us to go ”.
They walk off hand in hand together
on a path now sprinkled with snow.

A Friend In Me

I see a loneliness in your eyes
and I don’t know what to do
I know you’d like to be different
but then you wouldn’t be you.
You just want to be the same
as your friend’s appear to be
but you need never feel alone
when you have a friend in me.

Sometimes when we’re together
I see the sunshine in your face
then something takes your mind
to a different and darker place.
Perhaps I say something wrong
or maybe it’s other things too
but if you talk to me, I will listen
and bring the sunlight back to you.

It’s not easy at eight years old
to have worries like you do
you feel different to all of us
but mostly we’re just like you.
So don’t you hide from your life
just live it the best you can do
and if I'm near, let my smile
find the happiness there in you.

Angel

When I woke up this morning and I saw you lying there
with the sunlight through the curtains shining in your hair.
I looked at you lovingly, while you lay asleep
then leaned over to kiss you, gently on your cheek.
And I do believe it's true to say,
I think I have kissed an Angel today.

We sat together at the breakfast table, with talk of the day ahead
as always you had something to say, to help me clear my head.
The phone rang, one of the children, needing you again
you patiently talked and listened to her, taking away her pain.
And I do believe it's true to say,
I think I have spoken to an Angel today.

When I came home in the evening, at the end of a busy day
you were there at the door to meet me, in your usual way.
I’d never seen you more beautiful, in the clothes you wear
I held you close to kiss you, while my hand ran through your hair.
And I do believe it's true to say,
I think I have seen an Angel today.

Now as I lay beside you, as you sleep, in the dark of the night
I think how you always bring to my life, so much love and light.
Without your love I would be, like a candle without a flame
for the close ones, who share our love, it would be the same.
And I do believe it's true to say,
I think I have loved an Angel today.

Porth Joke Beach

If you were to ask me the place I like the most
it would be Porth Joke Beach on the Cornish coast.
Where walking down to the beach on the path so steep
red poppies and corn marigolds dance at your feet.
Then as you reach the gate at the bottom of the field
a wonderful view of the rocky coastline is revealed.


The sound of corn buntings can be heard all around
and buzzards searching for prey hover above the ground.
While high on the rocks oyster catchers survey the scene
and on the beach you can see where sandworms have been.
Children fish in the rock pools left by the ebbing tide
and run around in the caves, where they love to hide.


Climbing up from the beach after an hour or two
there’s a bench to rest on and take in the view.
Over Cubert Common and back down to the sea
on a summer’s day, it’s where I like to be.
And in the evening, from the place where I stay
you might even catch the sun setting over the bay.

WINNER!

Won first prize in Voicesnet.com November 2010 Poetry Contest with my poem
'KEEP LOVE'S CANDLE BURNING'

A Day Or Two

Your treatment is done
you will soon be home.
Just take it easy now
and be sure to phone.

You have to stay there
for just a day or two.
And I will miss you
you know that is true.

While I am here
just on my own.
Home just doesn’t
feel like home.

But you will be back
in just a day or two.
Back here for me
to look after you.

So don’t you worry
whatever you do.
And just remember
how much I love you.