Recently, Review Officer Nikki, spoke to two of our incredible service users, Doris and Joan, about their love for poetry. Doris shared a beautiful poem she wrote about her mam (pictured above) with Nikki, whilst Joan (pictured above) also shared an incredible poem, titled ‘Nature’s Way’, showcasing their exceptional poetry skills.
Keep reading to read both of their beautiful poem’s.
“Our Mam” – by Doris
Mams gone now, memories stay
Of her hard life along the way.
No electric heating or washing machine,
Only black leaded grate edged in shining steel.
A blazing fire to warm us all,
From bags of coal the coalman brought.
It rattled along our cobbled street,
the horse and cart on it’s daily feat.
Slipping and sliding through snow and ice,
Many a horse paid the price.
No frozen food or microwaves,
Gas and coal was all the rage.
Ribs and cabbage, hot pot and scouse,
The lovely smells, wafted through the house.
Monday was washday, in the kitchen so small,
Just open shelves, no cupboards at all.
An old copper boiler that took so much space,
Mam all flustered and red in the face.
Scrubbing away, at the washing for eight,
She hung it all up on the old pulley rack,
Out of the way when we all came back.
Washday mam we all moaned and groaned,
If tea wasn’t ready when we came home.
Fifty odd years, this one house she stayed,
It’s front parlour all polished and neat,
Cut glass on the side board, it looked a real treat.
Gold coloured curtains gave a lovely glow,
From the dolly tints of long ago.
If Mam was out we knew where she’d be,
Not at the bingo, but shopping for tea.
She plodded on with not much thanks,
A night at the pictures, window shopping with Dad.
Always busy, no time to be sad,
No time for herself, that was our Mam.
One powder, one lipstick that lasted a year.
Lovely skin so fair and so clear.
She looked so smart and dressed up,
With her cossack style coat and a hat to match.
It was midnight blue edged in astrakhan,
She turned the head of many a man.
Shocked and shy at things seen on TV,
We often wondered how we came to be.
An innocence so lovely, so rare,
This was our mam that we all shared.
I hope there’s a heaven as we are told,
Where everyone’s well and no one grows old.
Streets safe to walk as ours used to be,
Doors left open so you don’t need a key.
“Nature’s Way” – by Joan
Spring, when flowers & birds are back on the scene,
Just look at the grass and the trees so green.
The air smells so sweet, fresh and new,
Plants come alive, their leaves soaked in dew.
Summer’s a time to be out having fun,
Enjoying those hours spent in the sun.
Planning holidays with family and friends,
Make the most of the time, before it all ends.
Autumn, when the leaves all begin to fall,
So many shades of colours, a sight for all.
A walk in the park, what a place to be,
Isn’t nature wonderful, look around you’ll see.
Winters lovely too, even though it’s very cold,
Remember, take the time to care for the young & old.
Children laughing and playing in the snow,
Santa’s on his way, they all seem to know.
There’s beauty abound in all of the seasons,
We should appreciate them even more, for lots of reasons.
Tonight when resting and sleep draws near,
Think of tomorrow, and be glad that you’re here.
Thank you both for sharing these beautiful poems, what a pleasurable reads!
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