Joan Walters
In Memory of our friend Joan Walters, a former member of
Horsham Writer’s Circle, who passed away in December 2018
SANTA'S SONG
He sets off for his annual ride,
Eight trusty reindeer side by side.
Delivering the lovely toys
To all the anxious girls and boys.
On Christmas Eve he goes around
And great excitement does abound.
Do you think that he’ll call this year?
“If you are very good, my dear.”
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
Carefree, happy holidays,
Full of laughter; jolly days;
Then we could laze about and play
And build sand-castles all the day.
The boats sailed past in silent ease,
Their sails held high to catch the breeze.
When we were young and fancy free,
T’was so enticing by the sea.
These memories of childhood bliss,
Create a picture such as this.
ISLE OF SKYE
Peace for the soul; it makes my heart glad,
This haven of solitude
Where there’s time to relax and quietly unwind,
Enjoying a tranquil mood.
Here we can find a great peace of mind
Where life drifts so slowly by;
There’s no busy rush — with time to reflect
On this lovely Isle of Skye.
Come and explore the rugged sea shore
Where fishing boats roam the seas.
When the weather is good you can hunt for your food
And savour the welcome breeze.
The folk here are few but friendships are true
And noone need feel alone.
It’s the best place to be, right here by the sea
And somewhere to really call home.
Where there’s peace for the soul which makes the heart glad
In this haven of solitude
There’s no other place that I’d like to be,
Content with this tranquil mood.
NATURE'S RAINBOW
Patterns of the hedgerows
Along the roadside seen,
With oaks and ash and hawthorn
In myriad shades of green.
Daffodils in springtime,
So bright for all to see;
A lovely shade of yellow
To carpet wood and lea.
Brilliant is the night sky;
Bright and red the sun,
Painting the horizon
When the day is done.
Flowers that grow and blossom,
They come in vivid hue
With hollyhocks and lupins
And tiny violets too.
Abroad in steamy jungle;
Exotic birds we see
With quite fantastic colours,
Which flit from tree to tree.
When autumn comes upon us,
The leaves turn red and brown
To paint a scene of beauty
In countryside and town.
Our world is one big picture
Spread out in majesty;
All colours of the rainbow
If we take time to see.
The poem below appeared in issue 28 of Word Craft, the quarterly
magazine published by Wren Press on behalf of Crawley
and Horsham Writers’ Circles.
KEEPING UP WITH THE “JONES’S”
It’s hard to keep up with the “Jones’s”
Why never the Smith’s or the Brown’s?
They are such a hard act to follow;
Their prowess and skill know no bounds.
They always must do it one better,
Have everything that you could need;
But one never seems quite to be able
To equal in thought, word and deed.
But what does it really all matter,
To be better in this and in that?
To just go on happily living
Is my motto — and blow to all that!
Horsham Writer’s Circle, who passed away in December 2018
SANTA'S SONG
He sets off for his annual ride,
Eight trusty reindeer side by side.
Delivering the lovely toys
To all the anxious girls and boys.
On Christmas Eve he goes around
And great excitement does abound.
Do you think that he’ll call this year?
“If you are very good, my dear.”
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
Carefree, happy holidays,
Full of laughter; jolly days;
Then we could laze about and play
And build sand-castles all the day.
The boats sailed past in silent ease,
Their sails held high to catch the breeze.
When we were young and fancy free,
T’was so enticing by the sea.
These memories of childhood bliss,
Create a picture such as this.
ISLE OF SKYE
Peace for the soul; it makes my heart glad,
This haven of solitude
Where there’s time to relax and quietly unwind,
Enjoying a tranquil mood.
Here we can find a great peace of mind
Where life drifts so slowly by;
There’s no busy rush — with time to reflect
On this lovely Isle of Skye.
Come and explore the rugged sea shore
Where fishing boats roam the seas.
When the weather is good you can hunt for your food
And savour the welcome breeze.
The folk here are few but friendships are true
And noone need feel alone.
It’s the best place to be, right here by the sea
And somewhere to really call home.
Where there’s peace for the soul which makes the heart glad
In this haven of solitude
There’s no other place that I’d like to be,
Content with this tranquil mood.
NATURE'S RAINBOW
Patterns of the hedgerows
Along the roadside seen,
With oaks and ash and hawthorn
In myriad shades of green.
Daffodils in springtime,
So bright for all to see;
A lovely shade of yellow
To carpet wood and lea.
Brilliant is the night sky;
Bright and red the sun,
Painting the horizon
When the day is done.
Flowers that grow and blossom,
They come in vivid hue
With hollyhocks and lupins
And tiny violets too.
Abroad in steamy jungle;
Exotic birds we see
With quite fantastic colours,
Which flit from tree to tree.
When autumn comes upon us,
The leaves turn red and brown
To paint a scene of beauty
In countryside and town.
Our world is one big picture
Spread out in majesty;
All colours of the rainbow
If we take time to see.
The poem below appeared in issue 28 of Word Craft, the quarterly
magazine published by Wren Press on behalf of Crawley
and Horsham Writers’ Circles.
KEEPING UP WITH THE “JONES’S”
It’s hard to keep up with the “Jones’s”
Why never the Smith’s or the Brown’s?
They are such a hard act to follow;
Their prowess and skill know no bounds.
They always must do it one better,
Have everything that you could need;
But one never seems quite to be able
To equal in thought, word and deed.
But what does it really all matter,
To be better in this and in that?
To just go on happily living
Is my motto — and blow to all that!