Memories
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For Grandma
I dreamt I walked a quiet hall The moonlight creeping close behind I listened carefully for your call And reached out softly for your mind As all the moments passed before my eyes as I stepped slowly on I wondered at the things I saw I wondered if I’d been here long Then quickly as the light appeared My footsteps echoed far away And then it was as I had feared I broke into another day And yet it seemed quite different As the sunrise opened wide And on the air I caught a scent of lavender and thyme outside I walked into the morning air The sky was freshly washed and blue I stood in golden sun and stared as flowers woke from morning dew And then across the way I heard A sound so small, a gentle song And there appeared a little bird He told me that I did belong For I am part of everything and you are part of me Listen closely when I sing and I can set you free Look for me in skies of gold In falling leaves and daffodils Look as every flower unfolds The polished stones on windowsills In every butterfly and bird In poppies swaying on the breeze In all the kindly written words In long cool branches on the trees These things are all around you now And so am I with every dawn No more the dark night whispers how There is no need to be forlorn A little robin told me so and that must surely make it true I’m everywhere the gardens grow I’m everywhere each day with you |
For Gran
The leaves are flying wildly, outside in the wind And autumn colours tell me that the snows not far behind You’d take my hand and tell me – ‘let’s go for a walk’ And after we can sit down for a drink and for a talk We always did the crossword, and played the bingo too We never won, did anyone, it mattered not to you As long as there was someone, to chat to and relay The things that went on in the street around us every day And when it rained we’d stay inside, I’d draw, you’d comb my hair And when the thunder came you’d hold me tight out on the stairs We’d bake, then wait for Grandad, he’d be home sometime soon You’d teach me games, and tricks, you were a mean hand at pontoon! Footsteps to the back door, look, a friend has come to play Just let them run round in the sun, that’s all they need today There was a freedom in this childhood, no thing too daft or small Just all that time to listen, stop, and right us when we fall And so I stood beside you, my bright eyes looking on And all the jokes and laughter made me feel like I belonged You don’t grow old inside you know, you told me long ago Your hair goes grey and lines around your eyes begin to show But in your heart you’re young, still young, still sweet seventeen Still full of longing for the sights and sounds you’ve never seen So no one grows old really, and there’s no such thing as death Just time that passes in-between each of our waking breaths Don’t be afraid, you’d say, I would have stayed here if I could And hinny, don’t go moping, it won’t do you any good No tears, or fears of what we’ve lost and what’s still yet to be Just memories of happy days we shared down by the sea Time
Oh when did I become so grey I think I must have been away I don’t remember it at all I would have seen you had you called And yet amongst the depths of night Your fingers combed and left a fright And here I am all washed and worn Like memories, all colour gone |