Dedications to the ones we love and the ones we have lost
“The one constant thing in my life that provides me with a feeling of sublime happiness”
New Arrival by Peter Boyle
I remember that I’d been away for three weeks. She was sitting up with a self-satisfied look on her face. I strode quickly to the bed, sat on the edge, exchanged an unchaste kiss and a tender hug with the love of my life.
“Don’t you want to see our new daughter then?” she said with a self-satisfied smile, releasing herself from my cuddle. Swaddled in the cot was the most beautiful baby that had ever been born. Only her head visible. Fast asleep, sparse fair hair, slightly pouting lips, dark eye lashes resting on her cheeks. Quite plump for a newborn about twenty-four hours old.
The weeks went by. Myself intermittently at home and away. Barbara, for that was our daughter’s name, healthily gaining weight, becoming more and more cuddly and active. She also decided for whatever reason, to sleep during the day and be awake at nights. She became aware of me and I’m sure she looked forward to my returns home. Bath times were exiting. Nappy changing a chore. When in bed with us her curiosity and wee fingers explored my nostrils, lips, and eyelids.
The love of my life was getting somewhat frazzled with night times awake and day times sleeping. Daddy to the rescue. After about three months I managed to get her to go to sleep at half past eleven one evening. She did not wake up until six o’clock the following morning. What joy. The love of my life and I looked smugly at each other. With mutual love we had produced a most delightful, lovable, miniature person.
Self-congratulations all round.
I call her Mam by Karla Graham
This loved one of mine is so special
I call her my mam
She is the most perfect mam ever
I would not have her any other way
She is flawless
Her hair is so glossy
Straight and silky hair
Like the fabric of a formal gown
My mam has enormous hands
She could snap your wrist if you had weak bones
But they are beautiful and kind hands though.
She has a laugh like no other
The most genuine laugh there could ever be
Her bright smile would make your heart melt
It beams with pride
My mam has a comforting fragrance
Just like fresh bedding out of a washing machine
She gives warm hugs
Hugs that can protect anyone from harm
Her eyes are beady
But they are caring eyes
She means the world to me
I would be lost without her
I don’t want to think about life without her in
She has been my rock in lockdown
Michael by Mary Pickin
He looks like he’s from “The Revenant” – bushy beard and hair which he puts in a man bun when he’s working from home. His voice is as Geordie as they come because as he practises every day in front of the mirror in his Herne Hill flat, his 4th home since he moved to London 5 years ago. He doesn’t want to lose his accent or not to say “Thank you” to waiters; he doesn’t want to tire of being a friendly north easterner. He’s the mental health first aider at work but he can also be tough to his customers if he wants to.
Before lockdown his colleagues in the call centre loved to stop and watch him in awe when he occasionally loses it with a customer whose overstepped, stands up from his desk and says “now had on…” If they swear at me, mam, I say to them, “Can you repeat that please, Sir?” It stops them dead.
He embellishes himself with tattoos: “Champagne Charlies” across one pec; the name of his band. When he played in London for the first time a girl asked the name of the band and no matter how hard he tried to tell her what with the noise and his accent she thought they were called the Shopping Trolleys. On his arm is “I love you now as I loved you then” on his right flank a beautiful widowbird and on his inner arm his ginger cat, Sid Vicious who is really soft as clarts. His beard and embellishments distract from the guttate psoriasis which ambushed when he was seventeen and quietly erodes his confidence.
During lockdown, Michael gently quietens my anxieties and makes me laugh so much. He says he loves me loads and that I deserve the moon and more. I owe him nothing, he says. Just half the house.
The ones that matter by B
A young pale face, framed with dark hair,
But in what colour?
Blonde? Brown? Black?
I’ll leave that for you, the reader to decide, as I needn’t share
They have kind eyes and a warm heart,
Always helping others, when in need of care.
They have patience and are understanding,
And can be slightly bossy too!
But I know they mean well,
And help and inspire me, with everything I do.
A connection which is dear
Like a sibling and a Friend,
They have a heart of gold
And an ear they lend
They help to cheer me up, during lockdown
With their funny texts and jokes
So I’m often happy and laughing
And rarely with a frown
We met volunteering at the same place
And didn’t get along much at first,
We were both going through a lot at the time,
And didn’t see much of one another for a while,
But it wasn’t until, I found myself,
In a dark time in my life
And suddenly facing the worst,
That we gradually started to speak more
About all the pain and the hurt
We apologised for our differences,
We’re both past that now,
We keep in touch quite often
And are both much better at listening…
Now, we never have a row
We can talk about anything
And do so, with so grace
They mean the world to me,
And I miss their cloud-like hugs,
I can’t wait to see them again
I don’t know when…
I suppose that doesn’t matter
As I know, they are there for me
As I for them
A very special person indeed,
I’ll always remember
Whatever the weather,
That they were there for me
When I hadn’t another,
They are
A Loved One
Like No Other!
So there you are
My dear reader,
We’ve come to the end,
Of my Story of A Loved One
A connection we did mend
So, what do you think?
A message did I send?
Well, I guess,
That is for you to decide in the end
Furry Folk by Elizabeth
The one constant thing in my life that provides me with a feeling of sublime happiness, peace, tranquility, unconditional love and the only thing I miss whilst on holiday are my fur babies.
People often have too much to say and are not always complimentary, whilst my cats are unable to speak they are always around to cheer me up and their affection speaks volumes.
Anyone who knows me would totally agree that they are the love of my life.
Elizabeth by Peter
E is for elegance as that is your way.
L is for your love which I carry each day.
I is for incredible as that’s what I see.
Z is for zoo , one of your favourite places to be.
A is for approachable as that’s in your makeup.
B is for breathtaking as that’s how I see you always, not just dressed up.
E is for enthusiastic as is your appetite for life.
T is for temperament which is usually calm and keeps me out of strife.
H is happiness which I feel in every way, today, tomorrow, everyday.
Longing by Anne Raffle
When he walked into the room he had a frown on his face, which was clearly visible over the designer stubble.
He grimaced further when he saw the crowd of people, and looked around, as though trying to find the person who’d put it there!
As his hazel eyes flashed with anger, everyone in his path turned away from him.
I started to turn away too but he pinned me with a piercing look, making me stagger backwards into a passing waiter, who swore as the tray he was carrying crashed loudly to the floor.
I watched, mesmerised, as his menacing figure lumbered in my direction and when he reached me, he stared at me for a long moment before he uttered the words,
‘Hello my darling, I’ve spent all day just longing to see your beautiful face’.
I know I am home, and safe, now.
Vicky by Paul
Her hair was long and shining so long she could sit upon it but got quit cross if i acsidently sat opon it too.
with allibaster skin and sky blue eyes she heled with grace and dignety .
with her long ellegant gate she moves with no effort.
Her soft and gentle vouic soothing to the ear but when provoked you would listen .
her slim and nimble hands manicured soft to the skin could sooth the most acing head
warm and kind, thats why i fell deaply in love with her
My butifull Vicky.
Miss you so much my love
For ever yours, Paul.
Little person by Wendy
I’ve known this person for almost four years now.
She is small, blond, blue eyed, so funny, so loving, so kind.
She can melt your heart with a smile or a hug, but can drive you crazy with her strong will. She talks non-stop, loves to sing and dance, even to the tune of the ice cream van. She can use ALEXA, and oh boy she does this regularly, her favourite this week is RAIN RAIN GO AWAY which she sings along to with her red umbrella with the black cats on
She loves to dress up, fairy princess, with tiara and wand, oh and the naked builder, completely starkers other than a yellow hard hat, high viz jacket and a tool belt complete with plastic hammer, and drill.
She hasn’t a care in the world, other than raiding the goodies cupboard at any opportunity and making sure she has pink toe nails.
How does she make me feel, she makes me young, she allows me to be whoever I want to be, playing and dressing up, she makes me feel warm, loved and needed, even if it is just to have her practice her hair styles on. She makes me smile, laugh a lot and makes me remember my childhood, her mams childhood and how much like her she is. I can reminisce of days gone by and I can hear and see her growing and learning. Our video calls are lengthy, she walks me around the house, talking non-stop, and quite often bursting into song which she encourages me to join in with. We talk of what she has been up to, what she is busy with and she always at some point shows me the bunnies, one just yesterday was sporting a lovely pink cleaning cloth as a waistcoat, she is very creative.
This little person has helped me through lockdown with her innocence, her laughter, her questions and her play, which she has always invited me in to, and to which I am most grateful. I miss being with her face to face, but a huge Praise the Lord for WhatsApp video calls, I count the days when this is over and we can go puddle jumping again, walking walls, collecting leaves, twigs, stones, whatever takes our fancy, oh and sipping cocktails – that’s fizzy fruit water to you and I.
So until this lockdown and pandemic ends, we will continue with our distant chats and remote playtime, it’s not perfect, it’s not ideal, but it’s what we have for now and it brings us together, connection, love and laughter.
A Friend Indeed by David Black
‘My legs are just not my own’ is the current refrain.
It’s more than bad luck with this guy. ‘It’s like he’s in a coma, but still awake and walking around,’ said an uncompromising neighbour.
His trust in me is complete, which means whatever the problem is, I just can’t say no!
The boilers broke, the TV’s exploded, the flat roof’s leaking, again! That’s just on one day.
I’ve another nose bleed, my hands are white, I’ve problems downstairs!
It’s great to see his reaction when I manage to sort it out.
It takes about 5 years off him.
I worry that the more I do for him the more I disable him.
The Blossoming of April by Trinity Pupil
Even at four years old she is my center of the universe.
Everytime I see her it’s like the sun is brightening through the dark rainy day.
Her eyes are ocean blue as if you’re looking at the ocean all day.
Her hair is shiny brown and the curls drop into a form of a curly wurly.
Her pillowy lips part to show a gleaming smile like the sun shine.
Her personality is beyond a glow, her laugh rings out like church bells or birds sing on a morning.
Her favourite time is when it’s time to play with her toys and she isn’t afraid to take on anything in the world.
Throughout lockdown the thought of her in my mind running up to me and seeing her smile has kept me going.
She would never doubt a day to make me smile through good days or rainy days but she will always be my little girl and I will always love her.
My Dog Charlie by Trinity Pupil
He’s a small jackawawa but he is real loud and very protective of the family and I taught him how to score a goal.
When I first got him he bit me and I loved him more.
He looks soft but he’s tough as nails and used to chase birds out of the garden.
He’s as fast a cheetah and wakes us up every morning.
He means everything to me and he licks me to death when i get home and he always comes to me when sad but he’s never sad in my house because there’s never a dull moment.
My dog Jack by Trinity Pupil
The reason why I love my dog is he has bundles of energy and has silky fur.
A Loved One by Tony Huzzard
