THE PRIDE OF THE WHITE STAR LINE

It was a frantic day, the 31st of March,
A century ago, in 1909;
The Harland & Wolff shipyard, in Ireland’s Belfast,
Began a construction, working to a strict dead-line.

The first steel was laid, on a massive scale,
And over two years, a ship was born;
And on 31st of May, in 1911
The hull was launched, one misty dawn.

ONE SUNDAY IN APRIL (London Marathon )

A dry, cool morning, with a welcoming breeze;
Across the South, slumbering bodies rise.
Sunday morning in April, and with trepidation
They stretch, and wipe sleep from their eyes.

An early start beckons, for a trip to the City,
Crowds gather in clusters, in the parks of London;
As the minutes pass, they strip off their clothes,
And prepare their bodies, for the annual run.

A BAG, TAG AND CARDBOARD BOX

Black and white films, of years gone by
Show children gathered, at a railway station;
Steam belching from the waiting engine,
As parents kissed good-bye, to the young generation.

Double breasted coats, on little girls,
Their hair decorated with bows;
Caps on boys, with sticking-out ears,
From many, the tears just flowed.

Hitler was going to attack their country,
…destroy their green and pleasant land;
It was all so very bewildering, that
The youngsters couldn’t understand.

St. GEORGE’S DAY

A Roman soldier, lost his head,
For not ditching his Christian beliefs, it is said.
Though, legend sounds better, when a man called George
Went out one day, with his trusty sword.

He wandered from home, far and wide,
Across the English countryside;
Meeting people, and making new friends,
His gentlemanly conduct, knew no ends.

One day, he met a lady, … heavily laden,
In the form of a buxom maiden.
He could see that she was in distress,
And, on her journey, she could not progress.

The years have gone, I know not where,
We’ve lived through laughter and through pain.
We’ve shared life’s tapestry of love,
And I would live it all again.

There have been times of joy unbound,
When we have shared the things we’ve found.
We’ve grown together as we’ve learned,
And revelled both in every sound.

Through sadness too, we’ve shared those times,
Those moments of deep sorrow.
When we have sunk in deep despair,
With no hope of tomorrow.