My dearest Lins and Jack, it’s that time of year again
Though there have been sunny skies, you’ve had your share of
rain
Add another year to four and now that makes it five
I watch you pull together and still manage to arrive
Lins came to like the market and Jack, you went to France
All calm on the surface and also at first glance
Of course it is much harder, deep beneath the stuff
I see you both be real with it and give no time to bluff
There was a summer gathering, at which you both excelled
And a holiday in Keswick where your love of nature swelled
For Jack a tricky trip to Kent and healing evenings, heaven
sent
Leaping like giants and carving in wood
Of course not forgetting pottery, for doing Jack good
That cottage in Trowbridge, we all shared for a while
Walking the waterside mile after mile !
There was a birthday on Dartmoor and how could we know
That that weekend they forecast a gurt load of snow
The angel day in Chepstow was a family affair
A pleasure to support you Jack by coming over there
Big shifts occurred and your voices were heard
On the final leap of all good leaps and a closing circle word
Most recently, the loss of Lily Christine, the biggest blow
of all
Through it I have witnessed both of you stand oh so tall
To be with what it brings
Now wrapping you up in her gossamer wings
Lins you were her angel, now your Mum is yours instead
It never rains it pours you see, no matter what they said
Now Joe’s in the twilight of his life and these the hardest
days
To stay centred in yourselves just as the bar gets raised
It’s so hard and as life goes
It stops and starts and then it flows
You do so well, both of you do
Even when you’re in a stew
You sit back and contemplate
Asking Metatron, come be with me mate
Side by side through thick and thin
it’s not all lose, you often win
So embrace yourselves for another year
The ride of your lives is always here
Remember what you both hold dear
And whisper love in the others ear
Hold out for that love, don’t pander to fear
There’s a silver lining in every cloud
And when the universe screams out loud
Put your ear to the ground and stand up proud
Cos you know where you belong
The way to the top is not outside but deep inside you all
along
And in your heart you always know
There’s another standing in the flow
With you my friend and you my friend
x