CHRISTIAN AID

The children of Romania

Need our help again once more.

We've packed our shoe boxes

To the top just like a treasure store.

There's things for every little girl

and also for the boys.

Teenagers are not missed out,

We don't just send them toys.

It may not seem a lot to us,

But their eyes are opened wide

When they open up the boxes

And see what is inside.

So God bless these little children,

Give them love and care.

And let them know that somehow

Help is always there.

Betty Watt,

Durham

FLASHING LIGHTS

Flashing yellow light

dancing in the dark.

Streams of red lights follow,

Snaking along and turning

Like conga dancers.

Flashing yellow light,

one final turn

And it is home.

Released, the red lights joyfully

increase their pace.

A frenzied, mad race to the finish.

White lights,

diamonds in the dark.

Dazzling, brilliant, blinding.

Red lights caught in their fire;

An agony of twisting and turning

To drop out of the race.

Blue lights flashing,

emerging from the dark,

telling their urgency

Cover the tangled red and white lights

with their care.

For some the race is ended.

But the others?

Will they learn?

Anne Forbester, Acomb, York. Written on a journey home in the dark after a road accident

SEASON'S SONG

Spring flowers sprout,

Lambs jump about.

And summer green leaves have grown.

Autumn leaves fall off the trees.

Winter just a branch back into a seed.

Alice Emily Eynan, aged six,

Darlington

AFTER

Global warming; the fashionable threat.

We're all cautioned - our prospects are rotten.

Yet - the Earth will revive,

Burgeon; once again thrive.

When humanity's long been forgotten.

Ken Orton, Ferryhill Station

FOGGY-BELL (A true story set in verse)

Mr Jack Forrester owned a racehorse.

He named him Foggy-Bell.

His horse won the 1969 Lincoln because

the horse was fit, strong and well.

This Sadberge farmer gave mine host

Two pound at the Old Buck Inn

To back Foggy-Bell and he came in first

At odds of 20-1, what a good win.

A celebration night at the Old Buck Inn;

Drinks on the house was the cry!

It would be a pity, nay, even a sin

Not to toast a winner when dry.

So here's to Foggy-Bell, I hope he wins more.

And here's to the sport of kings,

Good health and good luck to a winner's door.

Then we will see what his next race brings.

Foggy-Bell won his next race

But the odds were shortened to 4-1.

He ran at a rare old pace

For the second time he ran and won.

Alfred Smirk, Darlington

SOMEBODY'S MOTHER - A GERIATRIC

"It comes to us all", that's what they say.

Old age will take its toll.

She's had a good innings, she's worked all her days

But now she'd rather be dead.

And she should know because she said it herself.

88 years old and crippled in pain.

She's not demented, deranged nor mad,

Just paying the price for life.

But she'd rather be dead, she told me so,

Than lay in her senility.

Her pride, her beauty, her shining eyes - gone now,

Poor lass, it's so sad.

No night, no day, no expectations.

No love, no lust, no sparkle.

She's somebody's mother and they love her so,

So please, God, have mercy and let her go.

Lesley Hislop, Aycliffe Village

AUTUMN RADIANCE

As Autumn begins,

the air crisp and clear,

leaves drop from trees

a carpet below

begin their flight

down they fall.

Each creature

beginning to stir

up and down

they scurry

preparing to store.

Autumn,

God's wonders pour

colours gold, browns,

bronze interweave

wonders to retrieve.

Life all shapes and forms

through the haze

beginning to dawn.

Maureen Thornton,

Saltburn

GRATEFUL TO BE THERE

I'm glad I was a 50s kid.

Children's favourites, Uncle Mac

hearing "Teddy Bears' Picnic" still brings it back.

No TV, just books and radio, and records to play

My introduction to Elvis - still The King - in my book anyway!

Mams spent summer evenings sat on doorsteps.

Kids dug forts with corrugated roofs - swung from ropes - "pile on" - was the shout,

raiding the tip for treasure,

playing house or 'tiggy'

'til we were tired out!

Best friends then - still the best.

Shared secrets and jokes so silly they made me laugh till I ached!

Saturday morning pictures, Sunday School,

sticky-out underskirts - and the rest.

New sandals at Easter, eggs rolled in the park.

Bonfire Night! Toffee lollies made in bun tins,

fireworks. The after dark.

Looking out of the window at glowing ashes.

Christmas arrived in December,

the smell of mixed spice,

nuts and fruit for the occasion,

ppecial, like the chicken - a little luxury!

Presents were surprises, with no confrontation

About what you didn't get!

So, I've never worried about my age,

reaching 60 won't throw me into despair,

I was a 50s kid -

And grateful to be there.

Mrs Carole Locker,

Whitby

BITTER/SWEET

Inside I feel like dying all the time

As hope and dreams taste of bitter lime.

All I strive to do distorts and breaks

Like driftwood falling into a beautiful, yet deathly, lake.

Drowning in my own nightmare;

Sinking to the bottom with no hope of oxygenating air.

Is life becoming its own tortured vision?

Or is reality tricking its own sinister division?

Nothing appears to be plain black or white;

Instead shades of grey in a blurred light.

Is there no end to the bitter end of failure?

As I struggle for a slither of some saviour.

Dreams of reward a tiny morsel treat,

To taste such dreams would be bitter sweet.

Rob Moran,Consett

THE FT INDEX

In March of 1994

The FAIRTRADE Mark was born.

Organic chocolate was marketed

To help support the forlorn.

Tea and coffee came afterwards,

Later that same year.

Trade justice was the driving force.

The fat cats had much to fear!

Now 12 years on and growing still

Thanks to your and my support,

The Third World farmers and workers receive

Benefits, as they ought.

Improved sanitation now,

And water piped from a well.

A realistic wage packet

And housing that's no longer hell.

There are 1,500 items now

To pick from when you shop.

So look out for the label, in your

basket, FAIRTRADE drop.

That's what makes such a difference

To other people's lives.

Pay a fair price for commodities

You children, dads and wives!

Some prices have remained the same

For the last 40 years!

But fertilizers and pesticides

Are costing more, one fears.

Please buy your cotton and fruit and tea

And herbs and honey and juice.

Look out for the FAIRTRADE label for

That is the one to choose!

Ciaran Jasper, aged 11, Sedgefield