Gillian.E. Shaw

My Nanna wore an apron
for all her mornings tasks;
such a pretty shade and floral
and I have kept the last.
...

Bold, brave
and beautiful
strong of limb
bright of eye
...

And as she turns we do not feel her:
Four seasons pass in several shades;
life, the given spark to ignite the flame.
Time past is spent. Only to be
...

Then run along the riverside
upon a time a French King's pride
viewed vast breadth and gentle ripples;
glitter, glisten, glow and twinkle.
...

While the Princes slept:
An unseen hand.
While a secret kept:
Reached through their dreams.
...

So charming, one found him amusing:
though, even right from the beginning
he didn't know how to love women
cared nothing for loving and giving
...

Once there was an observant girl
who passed the eleven plus;
so after all the excitement
and a great amount of fuss;
...

Underground, down in the dugout
when during the second world war
a siren wailed a last warning
before the darkest pall... plunging;
...

Incredulous I.
Neither one appears to fear
yet so certain God is near
times trodden trail to make and mend
...

Soldiers awaiting departure,
a kiss for mum, cherished goodbyes,
a trio of golden haired angels
despite their 'short back and sides'.
...

Can one believe the artless truth
how much love costs with illicit youth?
Cast felons must pay as pay they did
legitimate choice once made well hid.
...

Prophetic words sung of 'Maggie's Farm'.
Remembering the horror and harm.
Squandered production so undeserved.
Resilient stronghold was 'the word'.
...

They waited on
a chill wet day
for the Bedford
train while it rained,
...

Suddenly, through a veil of tears I saw the knave.
Wearing guilt across a blighted face:
Like the ambitious wife hiding wrong and blood;
vile stubborn stain, longing to vanish.
...

Upon a time a grail Queen said
'Keep this until you know I'm dead.'
Of sacred oaths, twice a mother;
lily livered, watched her suffer
...

There was a wildness to the man
whose hand hammered at the door;
an old familiar order, a command
recognition on demand:
...

I'll tell you of the Jacobite
who cuts right through my heart;
heed the call of the drums and pipe
a hand on hilt ready to fight
...

To seek a bright and perfect light.
We walked along our chosen way
behind that hallowed twisted site;
to seek a bright and perfect light
...

The knowledge acquired by the gravedigger
slowly troubles and plays on the mind:
So old great-grandpa Marcus Woods
without illusions endevored to find
...

On, through the necropolis;
Grave or crypt or tomb?
Varied form once chosen - housed
for the time to come;
...