Poetry

Last 5 days in the UK

As I'm packing, organising, sorting and writing letters I remembered that I'd promised to send my cousin a copy of the poem that I wrote on the day I got married.  She's 80, so I've hand-written it and sent it off first class, so it will probably arrive on her doorstep by Christmas.

I waited patiently until the end of the groom's speech before reading my poem aloud and have since been accused of stealing all of his thunder (not to mention material)...

Valuable lesson which I really should have learned much earlier - never upstage your man.

Read aloud by me on 30th May 2009 (it comes with a severe cheese warning)

When I first met Ivan just one year ago,
That we'd be here today I just couldn't know,
"What a whirlwind it's been" some people say,
"From the time that you met to tying the knot today."

Him being from Spain and me from England,
Makes it all the more remarkable that he asked for my hand.
I cannot deny that we've wasted any time,
But as most of you know I'm not exactly in my prime.

So it feels like at last that fate has smiled on me,
And the past year that I've had is the best in memory.
That life will be difficult in my mind there's no doubt,
But more interesting it will be with this man about.

As for our family, how blessed we are,
Our only sadness is that most live afar.
We've seen more of each other than we have for a while,
Some events with a tear, others with a smile.
We celebrated Christmas as we do every year,
And then said farewell to two held most dear.
We shall not forget you as life carries on,
And we know that forever we'll hold memories so fond.

So now we must thank you for being here today,
To celebrate with us and to help us on life's way.
Changes are happening, indeed that's for sure,
Before the year is out our three will be four.
For your amazing generosity each and everyone we thank,
As they say that having a baby is like opening a bank...

 So before that volcano erupts in our lives,
We're heading off for two weeks to Thailand's paradise.
To relax and to sleep and to generally have fun,
And to soak up some wonderful South Asian sun.
So thank you again, what more can we say,
Than we're delighted you're here to share our special day.