Gary Radice Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

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Originally published: 1st March 2021 to celebrate Ann and I's 33 years of marriage (20th February 1988)

Image: gR

A line is added each year to coincide with our respective years of marriage 

updated 2022 to coincide with our 34 years of marriage

updated 2023 to coincide with our 35 years of marriage

updated 2024 to coincide with our 36 years of marriage

updated 2025 to coincide with our 37 years of marriage

updated 2026 to coincide with our 38 years of marriage

This poem was placed 1st in the "Forever My Love Valentine" contest sponsored by Bj Legros Kelley (Judged 10th February 2022)

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The Young Land

when life’s path
was wide and long
our dreams and goals
were one and strong

we got engaged
and then we wed
and opened doors
that lay ahead

and when rules changed
in life’s great game
we changed our ways
but stayed the same

we ran down hills 
and trudged up sands
to grasp the new world
in our hands

we brought a child up
to expect
those things in life 
that we respect

we basked in fun
and swam through tears
and won and lost
between the years

all 
these lines
upon this 
page
tell of 
times
and 
tell
of 
age

yet love's stayed strong
the whole way through
beyond that young land 
we once knew.

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Mark Toney April 19, 2025 at 11:04 AM Gary, I appreciate your support for my Flash Poetry Challenge (12). The last stanza says it all. What a wonderful, ongoing tribute to you and your spouse's 37 years and counting! Gary Radice April 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM Thanks Mark. 37 years of marriage and 40 years since we first met. Where the heck does time go? Cheers - Gary

thriveni c mysore April 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM Be so blessed gifted poet. Be so in love and in life. Gary Radice April 8, 2025 at 7:19 AM I’ll try thriveni, I’ll try. :) Thank you. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex January 22, 2024 at 10:04 PM "yet love's stayed strong the whole way through beyond that young land we once knew" - A true love-life-tale. Congratulations! Gary Radice January 23, 2024 at 7:13 AM Thanks Christuraj! Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith January 22, 2024 at 12:10 PM Back with another Congratulations on your new win. A "Wonderful" write/picture. Hope you have many more years to come. Have a blessed day/week.................. Gary Radice January 23, 2024 at 7:15 AM Thanks again Paula!. I'll be making this poem into 36 lines in February for our 36th wedding anniversary. :) Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick February 23, 2023 at 7:55 AM Congratulations on this winning work in Brian's contest. Way to go. Thanks for sharing. Sara Gary Radice February 24, 2023 at 1:32 PM Thank you Sara. It's an oldie but one I return to each year to add a line for each year Ann and I have been married. Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith February 10, 2022 at 12:34 PM Congratulations on your win and long marriage. A "Wonderful" write and picture. Many more years to come. Have a blessed day............... Gary Radice February 11, 2022 at 5:59 AM Thank you Paula. Yep, hopefully many more years to come. I don't look any different now than I did back then....except 34 years older..and more grey..and more wrinkles..and... :) Cheers - Gary.

Connie Marcum Wong February 10, 2022 at 10:18 AM A lovely love story Gary. Congratulations on your long marriage. Congratulations also on your First Place win! Blessings xxoo Gary Radice February 11, 2022 at 5:56 AM Thank you so much Connie. It's a pretty accurate account of the last 34 years. I'll keep adding a line to the poem for each year its up on The Soup. :) Cheers - Gary

Bj Legros Kelley February 8, 2022 at 11:29 PM Gary, this is incredible, what a beautiful poem of endearing love throughout the years. Congratulations on your first-place win!! Happy Valentine's Day to you and your beloved! ~B.J. Gary Radice February 9, 2022 at 12:45 AM Thanks so much BJ for your encouragement and your great comments - and for hosting an equally great competition too! Cheers - Gary

Robert Lindley November 26, 2021 at 2:56 AM Superb poem about youth, life and aging. Imagery top class and flow very smooth. A definite fav- added to my fav list.. God bless.. Gary Radice November 26, 2021 at 8:54 AM Thank you Robert. I appreciate your visit and of course valued comments. I wrote this for Ann and I's 33rd wedding anniversary. I'm so glad you like it. I'm a little behind on reading poems at PS at the moment but I will catch up. I'll have a read of your latest poems over the weekend Robert - Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck April 23, 2021 at 9:36 AM A lovely poem about aging and our changing times! It's hard to keep up with them, if we even try... Gary Radice April 23, 2021 at 12:27 PM Thank you Ann :) I wrote this for Ann and I's 33rd wedding anniversary and - yes - times have changed so much and the older we get, the quicker life seems to speed up around us whilst we slow down! :) Cheers - Gary

Christopher Flaherty April 20, 2021 at 3:08 PM We ran down hill's Trugged up sands To grab the new world in our hands A perfect description of childhood exuberance and youth From a wise old hand Excellent Brilliant Gary Gary Radice April 21, 2021 at 1:01 AM Yes, it was all so new back then :) Cheers Christopher - Gary

Constance La France March 27, 2021 at 4:54 PM Gary, congratulations on your win in my challenge, A Meaning Poem and that is exactly what you gave me, well done _Constance Gary Radice March 28, 2021 at 12:32 AM Thanks Constance for your comments and sponsoring the competition. Cheers - Gary.

David Kavanagh March 14, 2021 at 5:47 AM The trials and tribulations of life Gary, but portrayed with a sense of achievement, love and pride in your married life, excellent poetic style as in all your writes, cheers David Gary Radice March 14, 2021 at 6:07 AM Lovely words David. Thank you. I know it sounds a little trite but the poem did seem to write itself. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne March 13, 2021 at 6:43 PM Superb write Gary. Such a strong tribute to love enduring that defies time's change. Best wishes, Brian Gary Radice March 14, 2021 at 1:42 AM Brian, your succinct words 'love enduring that defies time's change' describe to a tee what I hoped to capture in the poem. Cheers - Gary

Gordon Mcconnell March 10, 2021 at 4:23 AM Such a lovely loving piece Gary, really enjoyed it as it speaks of real lasting love which you both have experienced. Great to meet fellow brit as I'm North of the border, have a great day, Gordon Gary Radice March 10, 2021 at 4:42 AM Thank you Gordon. Much appreciated. Give my regards to Scotland - we've spent many a holiday north of the border during our 33 years :)

Christopher Flaherty March 9, 2021 at 1:23 PM The very defintion of Poetic and Rhythmic Gary Enough no more need to be said Christopher Flaherty March 11, 2021 at 3:38 PM When you do something so well why on earth deviate . Never read a stumble from you when it finally hits the page it rarely seems able to surpass Gary Radice March 10, 2021 at 12:01 AM Thanks Christopher. I try to keep my poems as 'simple' and hopefully, therefore 'instantly accessible' as I can. In that way hopefully people can identify with the themes. Rhyme is really all I know. I stumble a bit trying anything else. Thanks for your comments. Cheers - Gary Christopher Flaherty March 9, 2021 at 1:24 PM Youthful Fresh

Michelle Faulkner March 3, 2021 at 1:22 PM This is such an uplifting ode to your marriage, and all the things you have faced together - that last stanza ties it all together so adroitly! Gary Radice March 3, 2021 at 1:44 PM Thank you Michelle. :)

Edward Ibeh March 3, 2021 at 4:16 AM Amazing piece, Gary:-) An enjoyable, delightful read! Gary Radice March 3, 2021 at 4:28 AM Edward, thanks so much for your visit and valued comments. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick March 2, 2021 at 6:27 AM Returned to say congrats. Way to go. Sara Gary Radice March 2, 2021 at 6:58 AM Thanks Sara!

Sara Kendrick March 1, 2021 at 2:30 PM Reads like a good contender to me for the contest. So many fall in love but don't make it. So glad that you and yours did. It is good to have someone in our lives that is our one and only. Your visit to my page was delightful. Sara Gary Radice March 1, 2021 at 2:35 PM Sara, your hunch was correct and I was lucky to be given an equal 1st place in Brian's competition. Thank you for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman March 1, 2021 at 11:25 AM Gary, congratulations on at least two fronts - your win with this lovely tribute to your marriage in 33 lines and happy anniversary! This is very clever and I love the reference to "the young land" of young romance forever young. All the best! Gary Radice March 1, 2021 at 11:49 AM Thank you and thank you again Sam :) I find it easy to write about topics I believe in and have lived - and this was such an easy write. :) Cheers - Gary

Rama Balasubramanian March 1, 2021 at 9:47 AM Wonderful write, many great lines which I can relate to with my life. Para 3,6,8 my favourite. Thanks for congratulations. I found a wonderful poet to follow Gary Radice March 1, 2021 at 11:05 AM Thank you Rama. I like it when people can relate to my poetry. I appreciate your comments. Cheers - Gary

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 1, 2021 at 6:41 AM This is wonderful!!! xomo Gary Radice March 1, 2021 at 12:40 PM Thank You! :) Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 1, 2021 at 7:46 AM Congratulations! Gary Radice March 1, 2021 at 6:52 AM Thanks Maureen. We celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary recently. :) Cheers - Gary