Friendship

The yellow rose symbolises friendship and care. They also represent remembrance. This poem is dedicated then to friendship and the everlasting blessing they give 💕

Armistice

The moon bleeds red tears on Armistice eve
A reminder of those who we sadly now grieve
Who paid the high price for our freedom and more
In battles and conflicts and heinous war
Their sacrifice recalled in the blooded moonlight
Their acts of such heroism saving our plight
To be remembered forever; their loss now our debt
Let hearts not go cold; let us never forget

English: When Moon seen very close to the horizon, the long sight-line through the atmosphere, filters and reddens the moonlight. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Remembrance

Where poppies blow in swathes of bloody red
So fragile ‘gainst the corn in crispy air
Let echoes of the past sound through each head
In recall of all those who served out there
And debt of gratitude prevail through time
For those who gave their life for their country
Remembering each one who bravely chimed
Who served on land, in air or out at sea
And in those meadows once the battle fields
Hold onto mem’ries etched forever more
N’er to forget who paid for freedom’s yield
As winter sun reveals their glory sure
    And through the years let none ever contemn
    Just what they gave as we remember them

English: Poppies on Remembrance Sunday Poppies in a field on Laverton Hill on Remembrance Sunday. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Captured Memories

What is a photograph
If it is not a memory
An image of a time gone by
Of a person; a thing; a day
Imprinted on paper yet
Captured by the soul

And what is a poem
If not a memory too
Imagery of a moment
Of a thought; a feeling; an object
Sealed in letters on a page
Captured by the heart

Always

A dedication to those who served in the D-Day Landings (6th June 1944)

I will never forget you
Always; always there
The men that went to save us all
From tyranny; despair
Ahead the roaring Dakota
To bring about new light
A light that now shines luminously
Across the world tonight

I will never forget you
Always; Always true
On beach history surging forward
Yet for many their adieu
And you?  It cost everything
Past this world to the next
Your sacrifice; the final one
In a place so very vexed

I will never forget you
Always; Always young
At peace now from the cries of war
Your old age n’er to be sung
And me; I will remember well
The chaos and the pain
The costly price of freedom, may
It never be in vain

We will never forget you
Always ; always there
The men that went to save us all
From tyranny; despair
And let the lessons learnt stay true
The guns of war now cease
Uphold the light of soldiers in
Hope of a world at peace

Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France.  BBC Radio Lincolnshire played a tape recording of four Veterans from the county through the day, Tony Blackman, Arthur Ernie Coville, Bernard John Hale and John Summerson.  It concluded “I want to go back to leave some of myself behind to the fallen lads that I knew – I shall always think about those that we left behind – always” 

We will remember them – always.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

Thank You :)

“What do you say?” their mother said
“Thank you” they said in rhyme
For that was what she expected
Them to say each time
A gift appeared or deed was done
For gratitude cost n’out
But if they didn’t say those words
Her voice would raise and shout
“What do you say” she would implore
“Why don’t you simply say –
‘Thank you so much for what you’ve done’
Be grateful every day”

For after all a thank you said
Brings cheer to any heart
With smile and words together it
Acknowledges the part
Of others going from their way
With kindness and with grace
To recognize the part they played;
Appreciation’s face
To notice what they said or gave
Or what they did for you
So don’t forget your gratitude
With a hearty thank you!

With thanks to Lincs Connect for their poem suggestion this morning.  This year I’m blogging a poem a day for a year raising awareness of stars.org.uk so if you also have a suggestion for a poem why not comment below?  Thank you 🙂

New Orleans: Thank you message in the grotto of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church; added by those for whom prayer or miracles were granted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One Day

I know one day I’ll surely die
I’ll draw my last long breath
I’ll close my eyes and let my soul
Be consumed by my death

And at that time I pray I’ll know
That life has really been
The best adventure here on earth
Lived fully – ever keen

I pray that I’ll have soared the skies
Have walked the highest range
Swam in the deepest ocean blue
Have welcomed, embraced change

I pray I’ll have just lived a life
The best one that I can
With love and laughter radiantly
Since when my days begun

Caught hold of inspiration bright
Kissed wonders to behold
Danced with great happiness and hope
With truth my life unfold

And in that last breath tentatively
I’ll pray that you’ll know still
That I have loved you from your first
Deep breath and always will.

Madiba

May his icon of unity through diversity
And struggle towards liberty
Drive us all to be freedom aware
Inspiring each to compassion and care
Beholding a message that sets all hearts free
And reconciling each nation to hold peace as the key 

Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) Rest in Peace

 

Charlie

In truth I never shook his hand
But knew he was just there
The little chap that ran around
And sat by Grandpa’s chair

He called him Charlie to his face
And said he was his friend
Invisible to me by sight
For he was just pretend

But even when we ventured out
He came so Grandpa said
Consistently right by his side
Running where he was led

He came out to the coffee shop
He went to the big store
He never missed the park outing
Or pint of beer for sure

And oh so very mischievous
He was a cheeky lad
Charlie, the boy so full of fun
Just happy, never sad!

And then when Grandpa passed away
We lost old Charlie too
As he slipped back from where he came
Imagination’s hue!

But there the story doesn’t end
For one thing lives for sure
Those memories of Grandpa G
And Charlie evermore!

Dedicated to my Grandpa and his wild and wonderful imagination personified in the life of Charlie 

Lest We Forget

Across the barren battlefields
Red poppies spread before the eyes
A memorial to fallen ones
At peace now in the setting sun
Commemorating those who died

For let us never dare forget
Those who gave lives for liberty
As poppy fields epitomize
Let us be still and do likewise
In homage to those who set us free

And so where scarlet carpet falls
Commemorations’ red display
Spare time to think of those now lost
Consider such their greatest cost
Each year on this Remembrance Day

Lest we forget

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them