Extracted from the book
The whole Nine Yards In Black & white
By that famous “North East Poet David F White”

 

THE FABRIC

I miss the parents that I had,
Their love and tender care.
The many times I stumbled,
They were always there.
The family I belonged to,
The fabric would not tear.
 
My brothers two and sister one,
Provided love and lots of fun.
Uncles and aunties, without number,
Kissing cousins, not one blunder.
The families that we came from,
The fabric would not tear.
 
Now as we spread across the earth,
Cousin Mike will dish the dirt.
He’s gone and done a family tree,
Exposed us all for what we be.
But never mind it’s plain to see,
I’m still the pick of a very large tree.

Having been shown the way; by my big cousin; not for the first time in my life.I had to express my own love of those who gave me so much.

THE FORMATIVE YEARS

As I grew up into my formative years,
Influenced I was, by four big bears.
They knew how to deal with a cockney lad,
Putting him down and making him sad.
Always a comforting smile from a dear aunt,
Scolding the boys saying, “Now boys you can’t.”
 
We would all sit down for a meal,
Aunty Doris oozed a love we could all feel.
She would smile with all her heart,
As she said “Charlie put down that jam tart”
He would shrink, looking wild,
Then plant it on the nose of the nearest child.
 
I would rush to go back year after year,
Nothing would stop me, I had no fear.
I would use my thumb, no money for a ticket,
It was cleaning windows and watching cricket.
One boy had to do his service and join the army,
Growing big and tough, I thought him barmy.
 
My cousin is a big guy not known to be arty,
In a tent on Ullswater he showed us he was farty.
As a scientific demonstration he set it alight,
A clear indication that he was without fright.
After hours of fishing he caught a trout,
It was cooked on the fire that we sat about.
 
The point of these words is to bring to your attention,
A change of style, that is beyond all comprehension.
I was given a strange book by the author’s hand,
A type of book that I once said should be banned.
As I worked my way through I thought “now that’s all right”,
And it’s by that famous North East poet “David F White”.

And in celebration of Aunt Muriels 90th birthday

My life with Aunty Muriel

We journeyed up the A1,

Stopping off at Leeds for lots of fun.

I liked to visit my gipsy aunt,

The one who would never say “no you can’t.”

Oh’ for Aunt Muriel’s egg and chips,

With sloppy kisses from greasy lips.

Weddings were always a lively affair,

She would be up to dance on her lovely pair.

After 90 years the legs have slowed up,

But the eyes still dance when she says “you cheeky pup.”

May the fire still burn for all to be seen,

The next job is to get that special card from the Queen.

The following is the acceptance to Maureens 40 wedding anniversary party by David's big brother Douglas. so this poetry trait must be in the blood?

 

I accept your invitation
And it gives me great delight
To join you and your family
On your very special night
To talk about the days gone by
And paddles in the sea
Of sandy socks and sandwiches
And gritty cups of tea
When we all met down at seaton
In a circle on the sands
With all our aunts and uncles
And our overbearing gran!
The swings and tents and jugs of tea
Are no longer there alas
They are with our long-gone childhood
Away back in the past.

 

 
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