Wood Anemones on Angmering Park Estate Woodlands
With spring, sort of easing more into early summer, I always start to feel livelier. I am not a good do-er in winter as the farming community say. There is no denying that I am much happier in summer with more light and warmer weather about. We are also into wedding season and I have two reasons to mention this.
One is that my friend Michelle Chittenden (who has made a couple of visits to our poetry group meetings) ‘s daughter Chelcie, who along with her fiancée Matt were recently in the local papers because having been turned away from hospital after checking in with rapid contractions: then immediately delivered her own sweet baby Zahra at home as soon as they got indoors! What a drama but the excitement in the family does not end there because. Matt and Chelcie then a couple of weeks later, won a wedding competition on Spirit FM Radio worth £15,00.00 (Yes fifteen thousand pounds). They are now in a position to name the day and not have to wonder where all the money would be coming from, so very well done and many congratulations to the happy couple on their mixed blessings. They were also to be heard on Spirit FM Radio talking about it. You can find that broadcast for a while on the Spirit FM website on the afternoon show. 3-7pm I think it was.
The other reason for bringing spring weddings into the chat is that my photographer daughter Jacqueline Rackham gave me a challenge/stroke, my very first commission when she asked me to write a light humoured poem that could be used to ask the over enthusiastic congregation not to spoil all the best shots as they snapped away with their mobile phones. My immediate and first response to the plea is this poem below: I did offer the change anything that she did not like, and she responded that she liked it but it was too long. At that point I thought it might be a good idea to throw this challenge out to everybody on our group email list and indeed the blog page. Please feel free to send your own idea’s for Jakki. Rik; perhaps this is one for you since you do like a bit of humour and have a way with words that send the corners of the mouth retreating in the cheeks of our amused faces. Please all have a think about this as an idea for next weeks meeting on Sunday 22nd.
Mixed Blessings
The long awaited and worked for wedding day
for which they diligently saved up all their pay,
should be the happiest day of their life
when they wait to be husband and wife.
This day is theirs when two hearts connect
And we should give them all of our respect.
Let us think about them walking down the aisle
setting our own needs aside just for a while.
They’re paying a professional to record each minute
The perfect photograph: NOT WITH YOUR ARM IN IT!
Take your own snaps on your mobile phone
but don’t spoil this special day for your own
satisfaction in your rush to take a shot,
that it is their day, you momentarily forgot.
Bide your time for later on when it’s clear
you won’t spoil the day for those you hold dear.
Hold back your happy but forceful enthusiasm
or twix your love and them may form a chasm.
A quick thoughtless action from yourself
might cast a shadow on the living room shelf.
Let them have this special day’s recollection
Keep mobile phone hidden beyond detection.
Thank you.
For those among us who frequent our beautiful woods one a year maximum just the see the Bluebells in their full glory, I have to point out that the photos here today were taken on the Angmering Park Estate woodlands just south of the Monarchs Way but the Wood Anemones are rife right now and will only last for viewing until the bluebells completely overwhelm them as they always do. They are a vision and do for all the world look like a very light late dusting of snow.
Wooden Enemies
My husband thought this was what I had said
For some years he thought this correct.
My ear did not discern that he’d missed the thread
That he had filed it in his head so defect.
It was when I pointed to his disbelief
During a tramp thru’ a patch in a woody bank
How you see they are anemones by the leaf
He claimed I had a point and to me he’d thank.
Then it was when he confessed his mistake;
For ‘Wooden Enemies’ he thought was their name,
For so many years, he laughed, for goodness sake!
It all made sense Wood Anemone sounds the same.
What indeed is in a name as was said of old?
Aren’t they just a pretty with either brand?
They’ll still show their star to sunshine bold
And close the bell when evening is at hand
Zooming fearlessly into the world to delight
A light weight at five pounds and ounces, five.
However she has shown she is up for a fight
Ready to spread her joy that she’s alive.
Appearing a pretty and strong little mite.
Zahra knows to make an entry with style
A girl in a big hurry to join the party
Hastens to stamp her mark with a smile
Rushing to greet us with a welcome hearty.
As delivered by Mum in life’s first trial.
