Written for and read at the Batley Community Choir Christmas Concert 19/12/18
‘Twas the month before Christmas, and all through the town
Not a resident of Batley, was wearing a frown.
A small Yorkshire town, right proud of its past;
Where wool and its weaving meant that we grew up fast.
Lonely – Remembering Jo’s Legacy
When We All Got Together
It started with excitement about the run
A day planned out for some sporting fun
A glass full of Pepsi, a packet of crisps
Then a plea to Twitter for some breakfast tips
A Mars bar, a Snickers and a two finger Twix
Were very quickly added to the breakfast list
We want Marathon to return again
So we initiated a referendum campaign
Engine starts for a sunny day drive
Picking up a friend before we arrive
Walking from the car park, I could feel the heat
Then looked down shockingly at my feet
OH NO! OH DEAR! I didn’t have a clue
Instead of my trainers I wore my black office shoes
Ah well, I guess, what it is it is
I maybe had a reason to give this running thing a miss
Off to registration whilst meeting friends
Then a warm-up by Kim which just wouldn’t end
We marched on the spot, then squatted down
Moved side to side and flung arms around
We shimmied our shoulders, swung our hips
I was beginning to regret that packet of crisps
It was very energetic, there is no doubt
At the end of it all I was all tired out!
And then began the race with a trot
Galloping down hills was about my lot
The uphill steps were indeed very trying
Whilst the long grass hill made me feel like flying
Conversations on route helped the kilometres pass
Along paths made freshly from folded grass
A dash to the finish through an arch of balloons
An achievement done felt over the moon
Falafels and burgers, fish ‘n chips and pies
Lunch trucks parked a pleasure to the eye
England thrashed Panama, six goals to one
As we watched from the shade of the afternoon sun
The cheers and the roars from the Oakwell crowd
Was noted in West Yorkshire as being rather loud
What a great get together, more in common as we know
When we all got together for our run for Jo.
Sonnet 2, The Helpers
by Bilal Saloo
Your name will not be etched in history,
nor your life written for all to debate,
In time you will be left a memory,
But your actions will outlive any fate. Continue reading “Sonnet 2, The Helpers”
We Can Choose
by Mark Griffin
If I understand the world one way and you understand the world another way then
WE CAN CHOOSE to understand one another. Continue reading “We Can Choose”
I Want Hope
I don’t want hate
Scrawled across the cover of tabloid news
Stacked in supermarkets on newsstand pews
Pictures of faces in scornful hate
Staring at shoppers who queue in wait Continue reading “I Want Hope”
Haiku
For The Love Of Books
They provide paths
for a hesitant mind,
to search for answers
when the page is turned Continue reading “For The Love Of Books”
Those Unsung Special Folk
T’was the day before New Year
In a magical little town
Where lived a flock of volunteers
Who worked the year all round Continue reading “Those Unsung Special Folk”
The Last Time
by Jane Griffin
There’s a last time…
A last time you see someone;
A last time you smile and they smile back;
A last time you hug; Continue reading “The Last Time”

