Author Archives: tyldesleyboy

We gathered in the morningThe priest came to the houseWe stood around your coffin as we prayedA time to say a last goodbyeA cover to your faceAnd then the coffin lidGoodbye, goodbye It was a lovely momentBefore we went to massBefore we laid your coffin in the graveThe rains poured from the heavensTorrential not theContinue reading “Requiem For Mammy”

Wide-eyed amazementApplause from the crowdReception and approvalEncouragement so loudEmma on a show court18 years and countingVanquished her opponentWimbledon anointing The power of approvalTo swell the heart with prideThe roar of a crowdSupporting your own sideThe guidance of a fatherA mother’s tender careThe simple force of friendshipSo armed we punch the air The days of lifeContinue reading “The Look In Her Eyes”

Thunderstorms are promised for todayWe like a bit of dramaAnd thunder is impressiveIf no harm doneCome and make your play The power of the heavensPlaying o’er usReminds us of our poor fragilityAnd yet the power of humansTo make thunderIs frightening and the cause of enmity The sounds of warOf cannon and guns blazingFamiliar to myContinue reading “Thunder”

Wimbledon is wonderful to watchEnglish lawnsTennis whitesStars of centre courtAthleticismDrama and drop shots I’ve just been watchingEmma RaducanuBeautiful sensation on the grassTrouble was I wanted her to winWhich means I couldn’t sit still(On my) for a minute Wanting things too muchCauses all the troubleCan’t stay calmHave to move aboutHide behind the door frameHope she getsContinue reading “Emma Raducanu”

We think we know each otherBut we don’tWe have an imageAnd the stories that we tellBut the person still eludes usThe things we never knewWe cannot really sayI knew you well I stepped into my gardenThere, a minuteThrough a doorI very rarely useI saw my gardenFrom another angleIt seemed so fresh so differentLike news IContinue reading “Nothing New In Nazareth”

Thomas had his doubtsWouldn’t you?A man was crucifiedThe nails the spearLaid to restTo lie a thousand yearHe refused beliefHe makes that very clear The others thought indeedThey saw a ghostAn appearance of a manThe Lord they knewHe invited them to touchNot just to lookIt can’t be himIt simply can’t be true Many now believe theContinue reading “Thomas”

I sit on the sofa watching tellyI sit in the kitchen for my teaI sit here in my study for my writingAnd there’s another chair I keepEspecially The chair a recliner in the cornerMy quiet spot for morning still and prayerIt is my thinking chair for meditationWhen agitation comes you’ll find me there Our dailyContinue reading “My Quiet Chair”

Money was not enoughIt never isWe need to leave a legacy behindWe feel the need to be someoneTo know we made our markA simple thing like simply being kind The impact of our being hereIs vital to our lifeNobody wants to be a nobodyOur value and our place hereThe difference that we makeImportant to ourContinue reading “Matthew”

Wimbledon’s a wonderGreen and pleasant landBoys and girls all dressed in whiteTennis ball in handRacket at the readyUmpire calls out ‘play’Spectators all we settle downSoaking up the day I wasn’t great at tennisDidn’t have the knackBut more than thatI didn’t likeThe idea of striking backThis one on one I’ll beat youWasn’t in my gameI admireContinue reading “Play”

Matthew 9:1-8 Now he knows the known unknownThe life beyond the graveThe man who set himself as stoneAmerica to save So many things he did not knowThe consequence of warTriggering violence abroadISIS near and far America so hurt that dayBecame an angry bearDetermined to maraud and slayAnd torture if they dare We have only addedContinue reading “Ruminating On Rumsfeld”

Olympic games took place outside my houseWe ran around the crescent for the raceThe FA Cup was fought on the Bottom FieldEvery Sunday morning a sacred placeAnd running home from churchIn evening darkPassing lamp posts high adrenalinThe Four-minute mile in impressive styleI ran Now my old bones acheI sit and watchEuros footballTennis cricket golf IContinue reading “Keep Fit”

Matthew 8:28-34 We learn to walkTo balance on our feetWe learn to talkTo say the words so sweetWe learn to ride a bikeAnd balance fineWe never fallOnce mastering the line EmotionsNow there’s a different thingWe’re up and downLike riding on a swingElation turns to sadnessSadness back to joyIt’s quite a businessDiscipline must employ Our mentalContinue reading “Mental Health”

It wasn’t a game of footballThis was about getting throughAbout not losing outTo Germany againDo not let them score a goal –Pick eight stout defendersScore one ourselves and then we’ll playThe game of no surrender It was ugly it was boringNeither wished to loseBut neither did enough to win the gameFamiliar like trench warfareArmies facingContinue reading “Old Foes”

PeterImpressive witness for the faithSaw the Lord transfigured on the heightSaw his healing powerSaw the storm at seaSaw him face the force of Roman might Saw him dieAnd saw him when he roseSaw his power at workTo set him freeImprisoned chained and guardedAn angel in the nightFreed him from what the Jews had hoped toContinue reading “Peter In Chains”

Personal questionsLike arrows to the heartSeek to find the inner youHeart now seeking heartHeart seeking missilesSent with love in mindWanting to establishCruel are you or kind? Jesus asked of PeterWho do you say I am?He sought to understandBe understoodYou and I can walk the roadCan know each other moreOur questioning seeks groundingSolid as stone orContinue reading “Question To The Heart”