Oh,John Joe was a farmer’s son.
He lived up in the hills
When he went to tend his sheep
He saw the cotton mills.
The rivers ran with water pure
And so provided power
Yet over these dark ruined towns
The heathered hills did tower.
Mary was a local girl
Se walked out on the moors
She wore a dress of silky cloth
Printed with small flowers.
John Joe saw Mary
When he was dipping sheep
She peered over a dry stone wall
And saw the new lambs leap.
Her hair was long.Her hair was gold
Her eyes were sapphire blue.
In John Joe’s eyes she was so fair
What was a man to do?
He watched her walking all alone
Was she sad or sick?
He showed her how his dog behaved
And showed her shepherds’ tricks.
So one day,he held her hand
As they walked to the Pike.
They stood up there and gazed all round
So John thought he would strike.
He bent down on his right knee
And spoke to Mary then.
I’ve loved you Mary since we met
I hoped we’d meet again
Mary smiled with her blue eyes;
Her lips were pink and bright.
I love you too and love the hills
And. love the summer light.
The next year they were married
Mary wore white lace.
She looked so happy then
To know she’d her own place.
The church bells rang,the people sang
John and Mary wed!
And naturally, when evening came,
At last, they went to bed.
When Mary lay in John Joe’s arms
She knew this was her home.
And so for many, many years
About the hills they roamed.
They cared for sheep and hens and goats
They cared for children three.
They never had a falling out…
But talked beneath a tree.
From youth to age the years went by
But John still loved his bride.
And Mary too was happy
With John Joe by her side.
Their faces,lined, were full of cheer
Their hair as white as snow
And everywhere that JJ went
Mary too did go.
Until the day came for his death
He lay down in the grass
Mary ran and held him close
And thus sweet John did pass.
The muffled bells rang from the tower
John Joe was carried in.
The parson prayed and hymns were sung.
The sheep dog made a din.,
In the dark earth John was laid
And Mary wept and cried.
what will I do now,my sweet John ,
without you by my side?
So Mary grieved and wept and sighed
And thus she spent two years…
The loss was great and bent her back
with the weight of care.
For when we open up our hearts
We feel both joy and woe.
This is the pattern of our love,
Which like the river flows

Down the slanting, new laid garden path

I saw the young wood pigeon in the bath.

We rarely went down there in recent years

The bird was not afraid, he stood and stared.

Then having splashed in joy, he flew away.

I miss my quiet garden and its peace.

My heart is overflowing with this grief

What’s the point of living, keeping safe?

When we shall no more feel love:s sweet embrace.

Mary wore her new garnet red winter coat to go to the dentist and doctor who were in the same building.Unfortunately, it was shorter than her wool skirt, which had a quite few moth holes in it
First, she had to see the doctor.
Hello dear, how are you getting on without your husband? Can’t you afford a new skirt?
He calls now and then.He told me he has bought me a house in Ealing.
Did he give you the address?
No, but if I am living in Ealing I shall have to change doctors.
You can change here if you want to.
But I like and respect you, doctor
Thank you so much.Very few people ever praise me.And unlike you, many people come here in dirty old clothes.
I just got this new coat.I may not have needed it, but ,to me, it is a symbol of wishing to return to life again.
That’s a good one.I’d better not tell my wife!
Is she quite extravagant?
Not really.I suppose there is no absolute level of spending which defines extravagance.What is normal for Princess Kate would not be for my wife.It is I suppose a way of dressing so you look ok for the life you lead and does not get you into debt.
Surely you like your wife to look good?
As long as she feels good, I don’t mind.
Anyway, why did you wish to see me?
Well, you don’t come very much so I wanted to see how you were getting on
I had a panic attack in the waiting room just now.I got vertigo
Are you frightened of me, my dear?
No,I really love you, doctor.
Shush, that is not allowed
I just meant in a Christian sense although you are a Hindu.But when it comes down to it all religions are about compassion and love if we look carefully.
That is hard to believe nowadays.
I know.I suppose it’s an ideal to aim for.
All I can do is do my job well and look after my family and my patients.
Find God in the little things.See how small an acorn is and wonder.If I swallowed one would an oak tree grow inside me?
No.it would have to grow by the sewer
Imagine under the ground may be thousands of oak tree growing
Only if silly idiots swallow acorns!
I’m sorry.I have this vivid imagination.Can I have it removed and put a plastic one in?
Not yet but no doubt it will happen.Go outside and walk around a lot
Why?
Because I have decided you are ok and we’ve talked enough.
Thank you so much, doctor.
And so say all of us
Then Mary picked up her red coat which the doctor had not seen and she went into the dentist waiting room.The kind receptionist got her some water as Mary did not understand the machine.Uncountable infinity, yes.Water machines, no.
This dentist was a most beautiful young woman darting about like a coloured fish in the deep ocean.
The filling is still here!The tooth broke.I shall repair it for you.
Thank you, Mary told her.It is almost a pleasure to come here.
Almost? the dentist replied.
It’s a day out for me, Mary told her.I don’t meet intelligent young women like you so much.
Oh, my.I forgot to feed Emile.Hi, can you send a cab, please? I must go home or my cat will never forgive me.
A handsome young man appeared with a silver car.It almost seemed like a dream.How would Mary know?
He was a Muslim and his wife a Christian.
And both are good to us.

Even love is subject to finance.

Children need their food, theit little bed

When we’re cold and hungry we can’t dance

Hoping for true love by happenstance?

Children may be born but are they bred?;

Even love is subject to finance

Do we need the lightness of romance?

Be like little children,that man said

When we’re cold and hungry, there’s no chance

But money by itself lacks elegance.

Tell us more about what some man said

Children’s hands reach out,as if entranced.

Be a slave to love but not finance.

The heart is wise, but reason writhes,is dead

I follow links but somehow lose the thread

Love itself has died on bloody sands

Why should the wounded fearful try to dance?

I knew myself in his face when he lived

But now I have no mirror,I’m alone.

I learned myself reflected in his love.

An actual mirror seems like a dull stone

I was alive when mirrored his eyes

For those who hate us do not give us life.

What’s the answer when the loved one dies?

Without a husband there can be no wife.

All alone my blood seems not to flow.

The wellspring of my heart is arid,dry.

My hands curl up protective on my heart

I have no tears and so I cannot cry.

Yet I bleed inside from every part.

So where is my reflection, where my grace?

I cannot live without his tender face