Category Archives: Uncategorized

Come the morning I take my place On my settee With orange juice I’ve slept in warm In cosy bed While others endured The cold instead   Northern winds Are blowing cold Chill in the air The story told Yet row on row Obeisance Bow from the waist A noble stance   A sorrowing timeContinue reading “Day Three”

All these people filing through Where you gonna to sleep tonight? Pokey flats and high rise homes Urban semis and townhouse thrones River barges on the Thames Chelsea Mews and City gems Hotel apartments and B and B’s Chapel houses and monasteries Everyone goes home to sleep The moving stream a vigil keeps   It’sContinue reading “A Home To Go To”

Camels and dromedaries Crossing desert sands Travellers all in caravan Making for new lands   Mary too and Joseph Returning to their home Thought their son with the caravan Safe and not alone   People now in London Leave the Tube and car Step into the caravan Not going very far   But far enoughContinue reading “Caravan”

If people could They’d stay and sit awhile Like disciples in Gethsemane Like Mary when Christ died But we do not leave her lonely Her body we attend And draw near to one another As family as friend   Thanks to television I can sit and watch And marvel at the people passing through TheContinue reading “Life With Death Contended”

Here in the hall we see our folk Not ranting crowds Not protestors Just folk In silent simple step In patient line Their homely natural selves They do incline   The death of someone loved Has brought them here Within the hallowed hall They shed a tear And silently move onwards Into light To LondonContinue reading “Good Folk”

Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss What a back line that played for us! Cameron gave the ball away May defended – it went astray Johnson juggled as clowns ever do Now Truss has the ball But she won’t play for you   Time for Labour to try once more See if Starmer can even the scoreContinue reading “Colours To The Mast”

This long goodbye Befits the Queen’s long reign (Long to reign over us) All these years A lifetime She the same Yet change she saw As all of us see change Now a fixture’s gone What will remain?   No looking back We need a forward march Youth must have its day A forward archContinue reading “Long Goodbye”

Stillness and movement Watch it for hours Holds our attention Strange in its powers Sit by a fireside Fire warmth and flame Always in movement Yet always the same   Stand by the ocean Look out to sea Waves rolling inwards Flowing to me ‘Tween shore and horizon Unmoving the scene Yet always in motionContinue reading “Entranced”

The Gospel and the Guardian Are my daily food and fare The Gospel to inspire and guide The Guardian to make aware We need a social conscience A care for those in need Sensitivity to justice This the daily creed   A little left of centre Is where the heart should be The centre yesContinue reading “News And Views”

Young and old Fit and frail Wheelchair walking cane Babes in arms Expectant mums Walking all the same   These the folk For whom Christ died Saints and sinners all Brought together Round a cross Planted in the hall   Christ on Calvary the same People stood and stared Jesus gave his mother then ToContinue reading “The Cross Of Westminster”

Faces Many faces Come to say hello and goodbye Sacred space An ancient hall Some now wipe a tear As they cry   Guard of honour Changing places Stomp of staff on stone People pause In their paces You are not alone   Angels lead you On your journey As we say farewell Lines areContinue reading “Westminster Hall”

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.’  Mark Twain What has life now taught me? What has come home to me? All my years in priesthood Then in family What has come through shining clear? Beyond what reason says It is the warmth of kindness That comforts allContinue reading “Loving Kindness”

I am amazed I must admit To see this British queue Long lines of orderly people Hello how do you do? We developed it in wartime When rationing was on Get in line and wait your turn And meanwhile sing a song   And now her Majesty in state Catafalque on high Ancient hall WestminsterContinue reading “Queue”

It’s a common meditation The nation looks on death And celebrates the dying of the queen Funerals are occasional We don’t go every day But this one makes us stop awhile Stop and even pray   We share in this one nationally She belonged to all A symbol of our unity Though often there weContinue reading “Lying In State”

L S LOWRY ‘E’s caught it reet th’ knows Th’atmosphere o’ them days Flat caps and overcoats Chimneys in a haze Bolton town in misty grey Burnden sitting proud They are going to the match th’ knows Cheers and shouts out loud   He painted this in ‘53 I went in’54 A coach from TyldesleyContinue reading “Going To The Match”