The year is ending
As it always ends
Rejoice and forget your sins;
The rain is falling
As it always falls,
And the sea comes rolling in.
The sun is rising
As it always rises.
Unfold the new year plan;
The wind is blowing
As it always blows
Fresh hope from man to man.
by Alan Dickson
(1992)
Ring-a-ring of funeral bells
Throw the pussies down the wells
Ninety people fell and drowned
When London bridge came falling down
.
Ba-ba black sheep’s locked outside
Now the farm’s gone apartheid
Today’s pressures just too much
Humpty Dumpty’s cracking up
.
Jack Horner rings the Sunday Times
Utters a few warning lines
Slams down receiver then he’s gone
Sticks in a thumb explodes a bomb
.
Sitting drinking ginger ale
Duke of York turns ghostly pale
Ten thousand men go up in smoke
Their ashes settle round his cloak
.
Mary Mary quite contrary
Jumps from the eleventh story
Meets the pavement face to face
But makes an impact on that place
.
Pavement artist then takes part
Makes Mary Mary objects d’art
Splattered stone stands in the Tate
With Mary Mary on a plate
.
Sing a song of 50p
Mummy say one more to me
No more no more good night good night
God reaching down turns off the light.
.
.
By Kevin Brewer
It rained last night, what a lovely sound,
With kisses so welcome, it softened the ground.
A raindrop sparkles on a leaf by my door
Iridescent and trembling waiting for more.
A spiders web shimmers, gossamer lace.
With fairy like fingers it caresses my face.
A snail leaves a trail as it moves slowly along
The rain freshened air fills with the birds lovely song.
The world is awakening, the sun will arise
Flame coloured banners will colour the skies,
New buds will open and flowers bloom again
Welcoming new life, brought by Gods blessing of rain.
.
.
By Winifred Grace Turner
Golden leaves beneath my feet,
Autumn winds through my hair,
Flowers fade in slow retreat,
Foxes sleeping in their lair.
.
Ashen skies of nimbus flocks,
Shrieking geese flee from the east,
Falling showers of icy drops,
Soaking land, man and beasts.
.
Short days fly from dawn to dusk,
Chill nights sheltered by crackling fire,
Cattle in byre, fed on husks,
Springs green pastures their desire.
.
Boughs of apples creak and groan,
Hazels hardening on the tree,
Fields of stubble, freshly mown,
Swallows gone beyond the seas.
.
Orion’s sword arm held on high,
His flashing belt diamond bright,
The autumn stars invade the sky,
And silvery moon lights up the night.
.
It’s chestnut roasting, marshmallow toasting,
Hot toddies and mulled ales downed,
In the hedgerow robins boasting,
Leafy carpet covers the ground.
.
Autumn, herald for the winter,
All brown and red burnished gold,
Time is passing like a sprinter,
Now the year is growing old.
.
.
By William Hayles
The shaking hand that traced the wiry letters
traced the future:
that caressed my hair when I was young
now grips my heart with grief.
And I am left to wonder –
Did you know too?
.
Hands more eloquent than words their joints gnarled
like old branches
their sinews stretched with time
tell the story of a life long-lived.
And I am left to wonder –
Do you know too?
.
The emptiness of future anniversaries
flashed before me;
Words of love, not for this day alone
but for all the days to come.
And I no longer wonder –
You do know too.
.
.
by Frances Cummins
(1992)
