Oh my goodness me, I've got this working again .. happy I am

Ode to six years

Times move on and so do you

This year’s been another roller ride for two

Are you now the same as you were

No, you now have friends with fur

During this year, you’ve been there and back
You might not know it but you will get the knack

Dorset, Saltash and the Cheltenham two

They must go together and it’s all up to you

Jack jumped on the sofa, out of harms way

As Lily and Webster were accused of affray

Then gradually, gradually they entered your heart

And now you’re a family, never to part

Even out for food, they accompany you there

And if they aren’t allowed in, then you just go elsewhere

You went off for Dharshan and left the dogs here

Sitting in your AirBNB shedding a tear

Then off to the cottage for week upon week

Such a beautiful place in the peace that you seek

You spent Xmas at home and then considering a move

To the sea for a new job but you couldn’t find the groove

Anniversaries approached and grief started to rise

To allow it to pass helps you see it’s disguise

Along came another job and another interview

As in your current garden, the seed potatoes grew

Jack joined the circle, Lins caught in the ‘ACT’

The dogs had their birthdays, it’s time for a pact

To be a family together, to celebrate and be merry

On each new day that bring a fresh bite of life’s cherry

In Memory of Joe

In Memory Of Joe

He was a cat among all cats
A ginger tom who liked his pats
He was your mate, he was the best
Took care of you, he passed the test
And now you're laying him to rest

He was the cat who knew no greed
was always there in times of need
If you didn't know, then he would know
He cleared the way, was in the flow
And it was time for him to go

He loved his Mum and her wife too
He loved you and his love you knew
Your face lit up when he mewed at you
Over the years this love just grew
And he had nothing more to do

He's looking down from up above
Still sending both of you his love
He knows you know and there's no disguise
You can remember if you close your eyes
And now it's time for your goodbyes


Joseph came, he was, he loved
He's now at peace and still beloved
At the end you were his crutch
And he took comfort in your touch
And knowing that you loved him much

Bye bye Joseph

L&J Year 5

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

L&J Year 4

Four years on and my oh my

How fast the time does surely fly

Was it really that long ago

That you both promised to give it a go

Living together

For ever and ever

Is a very big ask however you look

To turn the page but keep the same book

There’s no kiss and tell

As you do so well

Keeping on, keeping on

This is the path for ‘being’ on

Is it hard or fast ?

No rules to break

To be done with chocolate

Or give up steak

On good days and bad

You wish that you had

Your own crystal balls

To see possible falls

More interesting to not know your fate ?

On Valentine’s Day there was

Heart shaped toast

And a mug celebrating the date

A cottage to be together in

An angel made of grout

An adventure to adventure in

Seven weeks later, you had to come out

You live each day as best you can

Together you’re walking hand in hand

Still strong after all this time

No matter how tough

Remember, you know stuff

And there’s always another new day

To say to each other

From one to another

I love you, I’m sorry

or may

I wish your heart will always shine

Together forever, I know you’ll be fine

Cos you love and love is a blessing

A blessing from Metatron

Haven’t you heard

He knows whatever  you’re saying

What EVER you’re saying, Yes, every word

He looks down from above

And holds you both in his love

Two people deserving every gift

In every day

That helps them lift

The story

And know that this is only a game

That no-one can win

No shame, no blame

Just love in your hearts

As light as a feather

For ever and ever

And ever

I still love you guys xx

L&J Year 3

I’m sitting to write this year’s poem

For two friends I know so well

It’s silent and yet, oh so clearly

I hear the sound of the mindfulness bell

It’s that time of year again

So gather around my friends

There’s some time to kill, so sit very still

And take a moment to look through my lens

Together you’ve been for sure

And there’ve been hardships you’ve had to endure

But when the skies are grey

You can look up and say

It’s alright, I’m with my baby

There’s no doubting, there’s no maybe

Here’s where the celebrations at

Now three years on, hip hip for that

Hooray for all you’ve done

Like two bullets from a gun

You’ve lived and loved and had some fun

Ok, so it’s been tough as well

And sometimes there’s an almighty swell

There are waves surrounding you

Your feet feel like they’re stuck with glue

And this just makes you blue

But it’s not always set in stone

And you are never on your own

What if you can’t make it through ?

Accept .. you always do

Cos you love each other through and through

I can see my dears from here it’s true

Sometimes things just seem to be flowing

And there’s a huge love toing and froing

Deep down you know that you’re still growing

In the direction you want to be going

Wound around your hearts so true

Are old stories that keep calling on you

If you listen too hard you will stop in your track

And they will keep on calling you back

But aren’t they just someone else’s view ?

You can still learn to let them go

And join again with your true heart flow

Here’s to the end of year three

Still together and  yet still free

So, how does it feel

You’ve made it this far

And that’s quite a big deal

It’s time again for you to take stock

How did you suck and how did you rock ?

These annual poems are not hard to write

As surrounding you both is aura of light

The light of love and heart and stuff

It’s so shiny and full and covered in fluff

I’d recognise those two friends of mine

Even if stood in a very long line

Cos shining out at the back

Are angels wings

Thank Metatron for that

And hands outstretched to say we do

Go into the next year thinking of you

As I go into the next year too

Sending love of course to you and you

L & J - Two Years On

Another year passed, that makes two
The second year where, it has been you and you
Together you are and together you'll be
Together you struggle and together you're free

Many more things have happened this year
Much joy, much laughter mixed in with some fear
Though where would you be if all was plain sailing
And you didn't now and then hold on tight to the railing

To guide you along in this marriage
Over cobbles with horse and with carriage
To heaven and back, with that heavy sack ?
You could've just left in the garage

You soldier on and, both triumphant you are
With adventures afoot, some near and some far
From Cornwall to the pavements of Venice

Both outside and in, when your worlds they do spin
You hear that voice loud as it's clear
When you dance away, just to dance back here
Isn't it better when you hold yourselves dear
In each other arms, cheeks touching, so near
A deep rooted love wipes away every tear

It's not easy of course, but you both can endorse
The love that you know you have found
And if you keep on, keeping on
You feel it, a pulse, so profound

Though my dear friends, navigating the bends
Is less appealing than cruising the straight bits
When life's punch lays you down and you feel you must frown
Notice the sun in the sky from the dips

So you come to the end of this year where
If you stand up straight and you spare
A thought for each other
From lover to lover
Hand in hand, another year as a pair

For L From Mrs Ducky

Please come, meet Mrs Ducky
I can tell you, she is lucky
she makes not quite right things good
though I think she should have worn a hood
she has come to help you see that in the dark times
you're still free
she's come to hold you when you doubt
from deep inside you'll hear her shout

Quack Quuuaaackkk Quaccck !
(loosely translated from ducky into I love you)
x

For L From The Easter Bunny

I am the Easter Bunny
and you may think it's funny
that I should choose to paint my egg
blue as the bluest sky
there is a reason, ask me why
a reminder when the clouds are grey
at some point they will go away
revealing what is always true
sky, like my egg, that's always blue
they will return, so don't dispair
above there is that sky of blue
and a day that's always fair

One Year On For L&J

That day was one year ago, return with me if you will
Because I have some memories and I feel like they’re gonna spill

I want to take you L, back to the moment you came in
You stood so upright and tall, I think you floored them all
Your smile was so wide, as walked with such pride
Up the aisle to Pachelbel’s call

Come with me J, as we turned to the back
Watched you enter and light up the room
Your face said it all, you were having a ball
At your wedding, your petals in bloom

Made your way to the front and excuse me, so blunt
You kissed with the swapping of rings
There was a song that you chose, Rollin’ river (what prose!)
And then right on cue everyone sings

As those wands crossed the aisle and you wandered in style
Now married, a pair, how divine
There was food, so much food, it was all brought to share
And of course, the beer and the wine

Later that day, there was your dance
Mesmerise in loves sweet trance
You learned the tango, showing off your fandango
Both amazingly brave, I think

Goodnight to Mrs & Mrs, with all of our hugs and our kisses
As the night drew in and came to a close, your life together began
What a send off my friends, through a rose tinted lens
Who says a wedding needs a man

Seems like only last week, your vows did you speak
In front of so many of your friends
But a whole years gone by, blimey doesn’t time fly
How’s it been, well that just depends

On your outlook you see, it was never to be
Easy, despite what you thought
And big chances of growth for you and you both
As you’ve been called to let go of the ought

Love has been there in the palm of your hands
Since that day, last May
Another leg of your way
In the hall near Blackpool Sands

Some reasons to be happy you see
You found love, there’s no mistake
Hold on to what you feel inside
Though it may take a while to bake

Remember, take heart, every day is the start
Of beautiful, never you fear
Together you stand, so hold out your hand
To receive this brand new year