Febraru 12th, 2008

9:35am Tuesday 12th February 2008

MY VALENTINE

Plenty of love for my Valentine,

And millions of kisses,

I don't care

If she's someone else's missus

Khadim Hussain, Middlesbrough

PASSAGE OF TIME

I have a secret I can never tell

Never to impart how I feel

Stirrings of love have invaded my mind

Making my senses reel

How can I ever turn back the clock

Time is just not on my side

Youth did leave me many moons ago

Anything worthwhile ebbed with the tide

I have fallen in love, I can't deny

But forbidden fruit I must refuse

He doesn't know and I won't tell

And my heart to him I must lose

I was born too soon, that's a fact

If only my years could disappear

Maybe in another time, perhaps another place

We may meet again in time's future year

I hear you say: "Why don't you go for it If he make you feel alive."

Well, my friend, it's only because he is 28 And I am 75!

Mrs J Naseby, Redcar

LOVE LIES BLEEDING

If loving you

Still makes me blue,

If the sun won't shine

Now you're not mine

If our yesteryears could come again

I'd take the sunshine and the rain.

If the roses all should have no thorns

We'd meet again in bright new dawns.

If moonlight nights would still be dear

I know I'd always find you near.

If wishes were horses, beggars might ride

Upon love's highway, side by side,

If all my dreams would just come true

Each day I'd come back home to you.

But I enter a house That is sad and lonely

And say to myself If only, if only.

Ida Mcaninly, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland

FOR LINDA, MY LINDA

For Linda who gave me it all,

All I had ever hope for

To be looked at, the way you looked at me,

when you thought I was busy.

I caught you a few times, looking at me, and I saw the love.

It was there in everthing you did.

The way we laughed, no one would ever the way we laughed.

The happiness we felt. Sitting there.

In our house, on our sofa, in our garden.

Holidng hands, walking, kissing, shopping.

Every minute a joy.

Worrying about our kids, would that ever stop? Probably not.

But because of your, it was easier, it was better.

You made things better, you always understood.

For that and all the other things (too numerous to say)

I thank you For that, I love you And I always will.

Mr Joseph Smith, Darlington

A SHIFT ON A TRAIN

Another shift on the railway line

A train sets off to arrive on time

The fireman has stoked the fire to a glow

And down the track the train does go.

The boiler's pressure valve blows a hiss

And the pistons pounding, never miss.

Round and round the axles turn

Building up speed the iron horse does churn

Through tunnels and over bridges

Cutting through valleys and over ridges.

Past a signal cabin the whistle screams

Up a steep hill the engine steams.

Clickerty, clickerty, clickerty, clack

The train speeds on, way down the track.

Some more coal thrown on the fire

The stoker sweats but cannot tire.

As the train approaches its destination

It draws to a halt at the waiting station.

Some more coal goes onto the fire

The pressure builds up a little higher.

Down the track again it speeds

The weary stoker takes the rest he needs

After a long, hard shift of sweat and grime

The train returns to the base on time.

Tony Mayhew, Bishop Auckland

THE POACHER

With many pockets in his coat

Each one so very deep

Equipped with nets and snares

He sets out on his nightly ploy.

While others in slumber sleep

Two ferrets stuffed inside his shirt

Of these he has no fear

Only a watchful eye he keeps

For his adversary, the gamekeeper,

In case he might appear.

With dimmed torch he makes his way

Through the thicket

Finds a set

Nets up each hole

Sends down his faithful ferrets.

Now just to set and wait,

With stamping feet

Each bobtail bolts

Each one to meet their fate.

Gordon McCallum, Bowburn, Co Durham

THE REPORT

I think I need to do a report

To report that I have completed my report

I'll report when I have completed my report

To the person who will then report my report.

The reporter reports that I've done my report

To the person who needs to see the report

They report to those that to them they report

And they also will then produce a report.

It's certainly essential to do a report

I'll report that to those who need my report

No time for work while I do my report

So I'll report the report to produce a report.

David Shaw, Consett

MATCH KICKED MET

A match kicked met, Adversaries glare, share the turf, the pitch, bruise spit. Contempt for the other side, as they try to wrestle the ball free of boots. Skin glistens, players spit, kick, flying boots, grazed flesh, Voices raised, sounds hurt ears, as voices, sounds cry, As the Geordies scream with displeasure, 300 miles they've come to touch the leather, all that distance, the black 'n white bird has flown, As whistles and recklessness had sounded through the night, All right? Perhaps? Players and conduct put to the test, in the match, Hope as the Magpies' wings, lift, as beaks, as voices cry, as wings, figures, and hope sags Alison Carr, Bishop Auckland