Hello, my friend

Hello my friend                    

       

I miss you

I miss your smile

Your loving advice

Your kindness most of all

I remember with fondness

The days of our youth

Choir and music

Filling our lives

Councils for music

Trips and singing too

How we revelled in those short years

Entertaining, and seemingly long

Time marched on

But we kept in touch

You came to my wedding

And to the hospital

When my daughter was born

Friends forever we declared.

And we went separate ways

Only getting in touch

Over time and space

Through the magic of the computer

We were reunited

Friends as if time

Hadn’t passed

But those days are long ago

And now in a blink of an eye

They’re gone

Memories of time passed

But one thing still remains

The bond never broken

Or friendship lives on

Not even death can break

A friendship so strong

You still are

And always will be

My friend

Forever on my mind

And in my heart

Happy birthday Rose

©Sheilagh Lee  July 27, 2015

Thirty-six years ago

For my husband who will always hold my heart.

Thirty-six years ago

I know thirty-six years ago

I was young and naive

I didn’t understand the world

And it didn’t understand me

Then I met you

And the world opened up

It wasn't such a scary place

With you by my side

I knew I’d found the person

The other half of me

That I needed just to breathe

So of course I didn’t let you go

I married you for

My dreams were home and family

In you I’ve found them both

I’ve even found the dreams

I tucked away from sight

For fear I’d be laughed at

But even those have been made right

For you’ve given me the confidence

To be myself

You’ve shown me true partnership

As you supported me

Through thick and thin

You made me see

What true love is

What a supportive partner can do

To make you feel alive and real

Someone who matters

As much as you

I love you my dear

May we have many more

Anniversaries in sight

Happy Anniversary Ken

©Sheilagh Lee  June 23, 2015

Dad

            DAD

You always worked hard to find

Any job, any trade

Amazing how you could adapt

To journeyman, chemical engineer, bricklayer     

Longshoreman, garbage man, security guard

You worked hard to provide

How lucky we were to have you

I remember the leisure you had

You spent with us

I recall a fishing pole

Holding a  hammer

Riding a new bike

Your tax return earned

You smiling at me

Across a table

As you sat in chair

Puffing away and talking

The talk of history

The battles and war

Alexander the great

To Rommel and more

The stories of Irish lore

Then the singing to Celtic records

Your favourite ‘Black velvet Band’

Because it reminded you of mom

You loved the great outdoors

And camping at Oastler Lake

The deep dark water

With lots of sunfish there

St. Mary’s where the picnics

Followed the fishing

The trip across the prairies to B.C.

When we were young

How you and mom survived it

I still don’t know

Four kids, dog and cat

On very little funds

To help out your family

Get a new job

How we miss you

But we know

You’re happy with mom

In heaven above

So just know you have our love

Happy Father's Day

©Sheilagh Lee  June 21, 2015

Hello Again

Hello, again

Do you hear me

There?

I’m thinking of you

Today

But then I think of you

A lot

Most days remembering

How lucky I was to have

Dad

You weren’t perfect

You had your problems

Who doesn’t?

But you were my dad

And I was daddy’s girl

My pops,

 Always there when I needed you

Ready with advice or help

Present

Nurturing my love of history

My love of Celtic music and coins

Giving knowledge

The love you shared with my mother

Inspired me,

It was obvious in the looks you gave

How much you loved her

Gestures

The way you indicated

That you revered her

Taught me much

I miss you dad

I miss your goofy smile

Your big-hearted gestures

Your laugh

But I remember your last words

I want my kids to be okay

Will you be okay?

And dad I am

But I still miss you,

Especially today

Happy birthday Dad

Love you 

©Sheilagh Lee  April 12, 2015

Three Word Wednesday- Miss you still

Three Word Wednesday- Miss you still

Chilly, adjective: uncomfortably cool or cold; (of a person) feeling cold; unfriendly.

Glorious, adjective: having, worthy of, or bringing fame or admiration; having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.

Petite, adjective: (of a woman) having a small and attractively dainty build; small, dainty, diminutive, slight, little, tiny, elfin, delicate, small-boned.

You were never petite

You were larger than life

It seemed, a glorious vision

Of beauty and brains

I was proud of you

Maybe a little jealous too

Of your easy way

Of grabbing all the attention

All the air in a room

You knew your own mind

Yet you felt displaced

When I come along

To add to the family

Still you took in stride

Reached out to me

Offering the big sister

Advice, demanding the accolades

Puzzled by the differences between us

The peer pressure too strong

You became a little distant and chilly

In your teen years

An island to yourself

I missed the closeness

We once had

I hoped to get it back

I cannot shoulder all the blame

Neither of us were perfect

But I walked on eggshells

And was always reaching out

Was it all one sided

Or were you just so puzzled still?

Reaching out and being rebuffed

Striving to return to days past

But it was not to be

Life got in the way

First boyfriends

Husbands, then babies

Finally time ran out

Death came too soon

Now there are only recriminations

Self-doubts and regret

Sadness when I think of you

And the relationship

We could have had

For I love you still.

©Sheilagh Lee  March 25, 2015

Honour

We honour you

 Who gave the greatest sacrifice

To protect kin and country

On distance shore

We honour

The sacrifices you made

The time you gave

The promises you cannot now keep

For mistakes made by other troops 

Have taken your life

We shall not condemn

Though it grieves us so
When the people
We help 
Blame

For you all fight

To stop the evil

But our Canadian life

Snuffed out too soon

Shall not be forgotten

We honour you

For  terrorism

Touches us all

We believe in your fight

Thank you

 ©Sheilagh Lee  March 7, 2015

RIP Sgt. Andrew Joseph Doiron

Dreaming big

I am strong today

I have won half the battle

And feel less pain

I have triumphed over the monster

Who seethes inside me 

Waiting for his chance to pounce

He has been beaten down

And must hide

He cannot steal my breath away

He cannot steal my energy today

He can only sit quietly 

In his dark corner

Simmering waiting for an edge

But I shall stamp him  down

For I want to fly again

Dream big and write

My stories begging to be told

Computer in lap

They begin to unfold

Happiness ensues.

                                              ©Sheilagh Lee  February 26, 2015

Three Word Wednesday - The Magic of Christmas

Three Word Wednesday - The Magic of Christmas

Alive, adjective: (Of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead; (of a feeling or quality) continuing in existence; continuing to be supported or in use; (of a person or animal) alert and active; animated; having interest and meaning.

Glaring, adjective: Giving out or reflecting a strong or dazzling light; staring fiercely or fixedly; highly obvious or conspicuous.

Misty, adjective: Full of, covered with, or accompanied by mist; (of a person's eyes) full of tears so as to blur the vision; indistinct or dim in outline; (of a color) not bright; soft.   

   

The Magic of Christmas

Alive~

 I shake off the dust of illness

Recovery is nigh despite the glaring

Shadow of re-occurrence

I will not doubt that I shall overcome

The misty shadowy thing that stalks me

I shall grab happiness and health

With both hands I embrace
 The joyous season of love and hope

And rejoice in family, friends, and love

The inner glow of joy shall keep me

Whole and well to enjoy

This Christmas once more.

©Sheilagh Lee  December 17, 2014

Three Word Wednesday- Distrust

Three Word Wednesday- Distrust

Prompts: Distrust, noun: Mistrust, suspicion, wariness, chariness, leeriness, lack of trust, lack of confidence; skepticism, doubt, doubtfulness, cynicism; misgivings, qualms, disbelief; verb: Mistrust, be suspicious of, be wary/chary of, be leery of, regard with suspicion, suspect; be skeptical of, have doubts about, doubt, be unsure of/about, have misgivings about, wonder about, disbelieve (in).

Hopeful, adjective: Optimistic, full of hope, confident, positive, buoyant, sanguine, expectant, bullish, cheerful, lighthearted; informal upbeat; promising, encouraging, heartening, inspiring, reassuring, auspicious, favorable, optimistic, propitious, bright, rosy; noun: Candidate, aspirant, prospect, possibility; nominee, competitor, contender; up-and-comer.

Tolerant, adjective: Open-minded, forbearing, broad-minded, liberal, unprejudiced, unbiased; patient, long-suffering, understanding, forgiving, charitable, lenient, indulgent, permissive, easygoing, lax; laid-back.

  Distrust 

Distrust of authority

Hopeful people

Embrace protest

Expecting that tolerance

And justice

Will prevail

But fiery, drawn out words

Lead to violence

As the verdict

That there is no justice

Wafts over the crowd

The morally challenged
Strike out on both sides
And protest is viewed 
As troublesome
Because a few
Bad apples who harm
Properties and they destroy

The good voices 
Lost in some eyes
The cause still good
Justice may still prevail
But morale low
As the town burns

©Sheilagh Lee November 26, 2014

There are good people in Ferguson read this http://rt.com/usa/209435-ferguson-bakery-donations-rebuild/

We Remember

They fought hard and long

To achieve those freedoms

Fighting and killing others

That hurt their very souls

They fought to save their countries

From tyranny and evil intent

They gave up their home lives

Their families and soil

To fight for kin and country

To save the world

They gave much

Now we revere them

Remember them

Immortalize them

We shall not forget

Their sacrifice

From sun up

To sundown

Each day we remember

Their forfeit

And honour their lives 

©Sheilagh Lee November 11, 2014