Still Dad

Posted on by wordz2go


You still fill
The same chair-sized space
You ever did – 
Your chair has gone but
I still see you stroll  
From room to room
With the usual smile 
On your face
Contemplating your next move
Of aged-wickedness,
I still hear your voice
Laughing at something
That’s tickled you,
Something no doubt
To share in the pub
But never in chapel,
I still feel your spirit watching
Over us as we 
Inevitably pack away
Your treasures
Carefully hoarded 
Over long years. 
I still love you
And miss you Dad and 
You still fill 
The same giant-sized role
You ever did.

Happy Birthday 

(c) wordz2Go 20th August 2021

Ashes to Ashes

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My darling Dad,

Part of me goes with you and 

A part of you remains with me – 

You will always be

My big man,

My fixer,

The lifter of my spirits.

Nothing can ever be the same 

Though life will go on

And sweep me with it

Because it must.

I miss your hugs,

Your smiling face,

Your voice on the phone

But I won’t be alone

Because your love 

Continues to encompass me. 

Rest now

And smile, 

I’ll see you again

In a little while.

All my love,

Ang xxx

(c) wordz2Go 7th July 20th 2021

Father(less) Day

Posted on by wordz2go
Dad

How to manage Father’s Day
When you can’t send a card
Or a bottle of wine,
There’s no twinkly eyes
Or a jokey punchline, 
No gravelly greeting
As you come downstairs,
Emotional overload
In his empty chair.
We have to accept
The things we can’t change 
But Father’s Day without Dad
Is eerily strange.
Throughout the years
He gave so much love 
So while I’m below
And he’s up above
I’ll feel grateful today
That I was his daughter,
I was so lucky –
No Father’s Day pauper.
His spirit lives on 
Right here in his home 
His love tangible 
In the words of this poem.

(c) wordz2Go 20th June 2021

Dedicated to Ron Cook
20/08/1928 – 02/06/2021

Facing the Music

Posted on by wordz2go

Forced to face mortality
Before strictly necessary,
Enjoying life –
Doing what you wanted to,
Though you knew
At 92 years young,
Facing the music was inevitable.
I thought I’ve have you 
Another year or two
And now you’re scared,
Tearful, acknowledging
You could die,
Losing confidence,
Aging perceptablity 
Right in front of me
While I ignore reality.

(c) wordz2Go 21st March 2021

Sure as Eggs

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Coming home from work
You’d swing me round,
Lift me off the ground,
No matter how tired you were,
You thought it was funny,
It was our joke,
A routine;
Sure as eggs.

A long time ago
Yet fresh in my mind
Like the time
You came into school
With lunchbox and flask
To comfort my tears – 
I see your touseled hair,
I see you standing there,
In your blue overalls 
Leaning against the door,
Smiling at me, reassuringly.

But then – 
You’ve always rescued me,
Sure as eggs.

(c) wordz2Go 1st April 2021

Ode to Aunties

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An ode to all my aunties
Today this Mother’s Day,
You were all so special
In oh so many ways,
You loved me and nagged me,
Brought me up to see the light,
‘Cos I was always wrong
And you were always right!
To Thelma Joan Mary,
Dulce Margaret, Violet Mo,
To Glennis Maud, Gwyneira Brenda,
Marjorie Muriel and Ethel Glo,
I loved you all in different ways
You all helped me to grow,
You chased me with a slipper
And taught me how to sew,
You clipped me round the ear
When I stepped out of line,
You loved me through thick and thin
So I knew that you were mine,
You showed me how to belly-laugh,
Helped me find a job or two,
You showed me how to knit
Keeping stitches straight and true,
You told me family stories,
You typed for me before PC
You laughed, you cried, you hugged,
You danced and scolded me
And I’ll never forget the advice
Received on my wedding day,
No need to shave my legs
The ball is still in play!
I thank you all for rearing me,
And I loved my mother Pam,
But on Mother’s Day, of all the days,
I my extended Mams.

(c) wordz2Go 14th March 2021

Wales v. Scotland 2021

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The war cry has sounded,
The game’s begun,
We’ve sung for our country,
Emotions undone!

The ball’s in play –
Penalty points,
We’re doing ok, 
But First AND Second try to Scotland,
It’s going their way,
Wales are under the cosh,
The games running away.
Come on Wales,
You turned up to play!

[Half time] 

A game of two halves,
Wales are back in the lead,
But Scotland’s not done,
The threat’s very real,
Scottish try, then Welsh,
Just 5 mins to go,
We’re one point ahead,
Can we get any more?
That’s it, it’s all over,
The battle is done,
Scotland’s defeated
And Wales has won!

Pundits will replay
Every blow to the joints,
The rights and wrongs
Of every point,
But a win’s a win
And we’re two for two – 
Come on Wales,
A Grand Slam’s overdue!

(c) wordz2Go 13 Feb 2021 

The Big 6-0

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On this birthday-day I’m thankful for much
The loving touch,
The joy and wishes from family and friends,
My husband for making it special
Even though now I’m a collectable,
My daughter and son for thoughtful gifts
And no wiscracks about stairlifts,
It’s been breakfast-in-bed and champagne-lunch,
Moving on to afternon tea – 
Plenty of treats on my special day,
Things to do and things to play,
But thanks most of all to the alcohol,
The Verve Clicquot,
The youthful fountain of pink gin and ice
Making lockdown 60 bubbly and boozy, and pink-ily nice.

In this year of years
I’m happy to embrace
The big 6-0 right in the face:
May the gin flow freely
‘Round my wheelchair wheelie,
Growing old disgracefully,
Living it large for thee and me –
May the Lord grant me years to come
And may all big numbers be undone,
So next year I’ll be 21!

(c) wordz2Go 4 Feb 2021 

Cappuccino Angel

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I saw a woman
Wearing a cardigan today
Identical to one of yours,
I looked at her face
And hung yours there;
Your face,
Your brown arms,
Your gold watch and bracelet,
Even your cross
Around her neck
Despite the fact that
I was wearing it.
I yearned to touch her,
Give her a hug,
But to touch a stranger
In these Covid days
Is strictly verboten.
So I left her alone –
But to see you so clearly,
So close,
It did make me smile
For a while.

“Treat every stranger as if they were an angel”

(c) wordz2Go 18 Oct 2020

Ninety Two

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Molten gold:
No matter how old
You pour yourself,
Willingly,
Into all the different shapes
Of our lives,
Spreading love and support
Thickly and generously
Across our needs,
Moulding yourself
Selflessly to us.
Your nineties are
Strong and vital,
Ageing gracefully,
Unashamedly.

Love you millions Dad,
Happy Birthday!

(c) wordz2Go 19 August 2020