|
|
Stafford U3A |
| The University of the Third Age |
|
The group meets fortnightly on Thursdays from 14.00 to 15.30
The Changing Year Tiny green shoots push up through bare earth Nature's sleep's over, signs of new birth Of bulbs: The winter lying dormant, now awakening With trepidation; First seeking, then growing, now flourishing. Snowdrops - tiny ballerinas - emerge, nodding in the breeze. Carpets of daffodils, golden, dance 'mong fresh-leafed trees. It's Spring! Breathe in the air Start living! No more slush, no more ice; Hark, hear those birds singing! Give way The short, drab day, The long, cold night To sunshine - to natural light; To brightness, to colour, to warmer days; To chorus of birds - in celebration, in joy, and in praise. Days draw out now, Summer draws nigh Heat haze, sun-shades, temperatures high. Ocean blue, golden sands, incoming tides, Puffy white clouds chase across wide blue skies. And all too soon, it is Autumn - the leaves of trees turning To vibrant, rich hues; reds, and golds - fires ablaze, burning. Dawn now brings mists, the night, a promise of frost. The year is almost over. It is Winter. The season's not lost. |
|
|
|
The Railway Station The hub of the town and near the park Of that there is no doubt It brings the people in, and greedily sucks them out Where do they go? It's hard to tell An ever moving stream each one on life's purpose bent A microcosm of the world today Where lines of people wait for trains The platform fills - the train glides in The train glides out and leaves the emptiness behind Time does not stand still for soon the platform fills again Just ask one traveller the purpose of the rush, his guarded smile Feels he is already on the train and tells you nothing of his quest And soon the darkness falls and all is still Until the new day dawns and the pattern starts again |
Autumn Leaves A rusty crown the autumn gold just gone ground steeped in rustling leaves a whirlwind sweeps them up makes them dance parade their fading colours in a last ballet show until the skies open and rain beats through the crown sending their last companions down wet and limp they mulch with reason not in grief Just settling for the dreamy season. |
|
|
Chink in the Armour A whiff of disinfectant greets me in the hall. Admission smile, encouraging. She's glad I made the call. Confirm my name and number, then sit and gaze ahead. Pretend I am enjoying this, hide the thoughts I dread. 'Countdown"s on the TV. Concentrate the mind. Shuffle in my seat a lot, a cosy spot to find. Giggles from the back room; 'It's all right for them I think.' But soon it will be over then a cuppa I can drink. "Mrs Jones" I hear the cry. My voice too weak to speak. Legs are quaking, hands are shaking, down the corridor I am making for the dentist's seat. |
|
|
Early Memories First Day No hurried down cornflakes and then out to play No, it's scratchy new tunic and stiff new blazer today The start of a new chapter but I'm only four "Please Mum another minute before you open the door" "Come on, stop dawdling, hurry up, Oh for heaven's ake sweety - put down that cup" Then seeing my tears about to flow Gently taking my hand and whispering, 'Come on let's go' Rounding the corner a crocodile file Of mothers and children but no crocodile smile Tasting the fear as silence descends The door slowly opens on all these new friends A smiling face beckons please come this way It's the start of your future - a very special day Mum bend down and I breathe in her smell Her kiss tastes of tears - Oh, she's scared as well! Her longest day over Mum waits at the gate Then the door flies open - "Hey Mum, that was great" |
A PRAYER On a night like this my love Let us stand, high on the hills, Kissed one another by the swirling rush of wind; Caressed by the fingers of night reaching From the folded clouds of sky. And we'll walk, run, sing through The bustle of twig crackled, heather stabbed dusk On a night like this my love We'll leap for the moon and bleed In the sun sinking hollows of shadow dimples; Stroked by a bush of freckle spun gorse Thrusting against madness. As we wave, fist shake, greet The silence of rabbit jumped, deer running night. On a night like this my love We shall dream on the tide shores Of silver spun moonbeam, crystal held embryos Hovering in ocean wept sorrows, Breeze flung by bitterness. Then we'll laugh, cry and share Our life as we search for the mysteries of love Friendship The smile that lights the face on meeting The warmth of the voice on greeting Someone on whom you can rely to stand beside you through life's lows and highs that's friendship. To indulge your foibles without judgement to treat a confidence as sacrosant Steadfast in their loyalty to the bitter end one who takes pleasure in having you for a friend now that's friendship. |
|
|