Q isfor Quintessential

Q is for Quintessential

Quintessential English villages

Chocolate picture box thatched cottages

White weatherboard houses lining the High Street

The grocer’s and newsagents are shops to greet and meet

Your neighbour from across the way

Who you didn't see in Church on Sunday

The two pubs either end of the hamlet

Providing rest and a much needed outlet

Quiet and rural in the countryside

A laid back lifestyle, slow and retired

Farming work from dawn to dusk is hard and long

Men and women toiling, old and young

Village social life is community based and strong

Every week there is something going on

Gardening clubs, darts and Fetes

Fresh produce at the farmers markets

Quintessential English steak and kidney pies

Roly Poly puddings and Cornish pasties

Fish and chips wrapped in newspaper

Pickled eggs and mushy peas and salt and vinegar

Bygone days another era headed by the Lord of the Manor

Hunting game, fox hunting and country horrors

The Squire’s word was law to the lowly paid

From the grooms to the housemaids

Quintessential Englishness through and through

Proud to be British and red, white and blue

We have our monarch, Queen Elizabeth II

Celebrating 60 years, Golden Jubilee

We’re proud of our heritage and our history

Although violent at times and stormy

Our empire, realms and domains have shaped us

We are now a nation of various cultures and races.

P is for Primrose

P is for Primrose

Going to the woods on a cold spring day

Pushing brambles out of the way

Following my Nan as she forges ahead

To the best spot in the wood

As we pick the long stems of the primroses

The delicate smell of spring in our noses

Pick the green leaves but leave the roots

Wriggling my feet in my black welly boots

The call of the birds and rustling in the undergrowth

Of tiny woodlouse and shy animals scurrying about

The sun breaking through the trees

My nine year old mind looking for fairies

Placing the flowers carefully in the basket

Retracing our steps through a green glade carpet

Returning home and assembling posies of flowers

Three large green leaves or four if smaller

Blue strands of wool threaded around the long stalks

Carefully placed in boxes of wadded moist paper

Working quietly in unison with my grandma

Who then takes the boxes on the bus to the train station

As they wend their way to London's Convent garden

The wages came in handy for hard working country people

Providing a few favourite treats instead of being frugal

The discards and rejects are placed in vases

To adorn our homes and mantel places.

O is for One Year On

O is for ONE YEAR ON

As a thank you to friends and family

I’ve penned this little homily.

A year ago my dad jumped out of his chair

I gave him such a scare.

Out for the count on the kitchen floor

On my back beside the cupboard door.

Mum called my name, propped me in her arms

Trying not to show her alarm.

Dave rushed home and faces were white

Everybody showing their fright.

Taken to the hospital straight away

In the middle of the day.

Much later I saw Dave sitting by my side

Coming to terms with the fact that I nearly died.

So now a year later I want to thank my kith and kin

And my friends again and again and again.

Night Descends

NIGHT DESCENDS

 

As night descends the darkness takes hold

It is time to be strong and bold.

Running from the demons, hiding from the devil

Thoughts go round and round spiralling down to the ground.

The merry-go-round of life

Retracing steps, backing away from strife

Entering into cul-de-sacs, taking the heat

On the one way street

The power of thoughts jumbling altogether

Like the forecast and rainy weather

Chasing the clouds and finding the sun

Looking and watching out for everyone.

Is there an answer, a solution to be found

Amongst the incessant clamouring on the ground?

Rising up from the depths of despair

Wondering how we ever got there.

Reaching out for help not forthcoming

Is it all preordained by those more cunning?

Take a step back and stop and listen to try and hear

What the spirits and angels are whispering to you my dear.

Open your heart and mind and learn

You don't have to twist and turn

Make your own waves and furrows

And enjoy all your tomorrows.

Live your life to the full

Stop taking the bull

Love and kindness is all around you

Accept those who dip in to it like a pot of fondue

You may not know until you are gone

Nobody will remember you in a song

But in their hearts and minds

You were always one of a kind.



M is for Mammogram

M IS FOR MAMMOGRAM

Mammogram time is here again

Ladies of a certain age suffer discomfort and pain

With their breasts woman-handled

Squeezed and pinched by two glass panes

Squashed down by a machine, flattened and battened

The results are ready in four weeks time

Then we wait for a letter in the mail

We breathe a sigh of relief and exhale

We wait another three years

Before doing it all again with a modicum of fear

The advice is not to rely on this alone

Check yourself regularly in the comfort of your home

Any worries, discomfort or changes in your body

Make the appointment, don't wait or be tardy

Don't worry or fret

Or you could slip through the net

Check it out

Don’t have any doubts.

L is for LILY

High guys, it’s been brought to my attention that a lot of my poems have been quite sad or rather morose lately and today is no exception.  My dear friend passed away recently after a long illness and although we were all very sad that she is no longer here it is also tinged with gladness that she isn't suffering anymore.

I’ve checked through my posts and what I plan to post and I would say that half of the alphabet letters are in a lighter vein and I hope you will think so as well.  I will certainly keep it in mind for any other challenges that I participate in.  Thank you all for your feedback it is much appreciated.

LILY

From my husband and my family

The release of pain has taken me away

I’ve left you all behind to carry on

As I join my daughter and her baby

Both of whom were taken too early.

You have to continue on without me

I know you are feeling angry

Sad and grieving, your hearts are breaking

I want you to know it was not of my making

Time to heal and time for praying

 

I couldn’t stay for another day

So I slipped peacefully away

Without a fuss, no bright lights

I quietly left to start my new venture

Although not with my life-long partner

  

Remember me as I remember you

Loving hearts and memories hard to bear

The fun and laughter that we all share

Wipe away the traces of your tears

And think of all our happy years.

As the time moves and the grating, aching pain

Changes from sharp shock into a more mellow domain

Here in heaven protected by the angels

I’ll be watching and loving you all from afar

Sprinkling you all with love from my star.

 

 

K is for KATHRYN

KATHRYN

Daddy’s girl is in pain

Wishing for his love in vain

She is so disappointed

At always being bated

Reviled and hated

For being related

Her love has been blighted

Thrown away and discarded

His fickle emotions flaunted

Fleeting and unspoken

Blood is not thicker than water

You won't fight for your daughter

They’ve fought this battle and won

Will you fight to keep your son?

The thought of not being wanted

Turned against, words slanted

Try as she might

She has no more fight

She gave and gave and gave

Until there is no give left anymore

She’d take him back with open arms

But he won't give up the other’s false charms

There is only so much pain to endure

They are all so cocksure

But in the end she has no allure

Compared to those who are more immature

To lose her father isn’t her fault

But she is battered from the assault

Hoping against hope he will realise his mistake

And reach out to mend her heartache.