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The Young Land

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Originally published: 1st March 2021 to celebrate our 33 years of marriage (20th February 1988)

updated 2022 to coincide with our 34 years of marriage and

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

Image by gR

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

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 these thirty-seven lines on 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

Date: 4/19/2025 11:04:00 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
Date: 4/19/2025 11:59:00 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

Date: 4/7/2025 8:59:00 PM

Be so blessed gifted poet. Be so in love and in life.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/8/2025 7:19:00 AM

I’ll try thriveni, I’ll try. :) Thank you. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 1/22/2024 10:04:00 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
Date: 1/23/2024 7:13:00 AM

Thanks Christuraj! Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 1/22/2024 12:10:00 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
Date: 1/23/2024 7:15:00 AM

Thanks again Paula!. I'll be making this poem into 36 lines in February for our 36th wedding anniversary. :) Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 2/23/2023 7:55:00 AM

Congratulations on this winning work in Brian's contest. Way to go. Thanks for sharing. Sara

Gary Radice
Date: 2/24/2023 1:32:00 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

Date: 2/10/2022 12:34:00 PM

Congratulations on your win and long marriage. A "Wonderful" write and picture. Many more years to come. Have a blessed day...............

Gary Radice
Date: 2/11/2022 5:59:00 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

Date: 2/10/2022 10:18:00 AM

A lovely love story Gary. Congratulations on your long marriage. Congratulations also on your First Place win! Blessings xxoo

Gary Radice
Date: 2/11/2022 5:56:00 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

Date: 2/8/2022 11:29:00 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
Date: 2/9/2022 12:45:00 AM

Thanks so much BJ for your encouragement and your great comments - and for hosting an equally great competition too! Cheers - Gary

Robert Lindley

Date: 11/26/2021 2:56:00 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
Date: 11/26/2021 8:54:00 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

Date: 4/23/2021 9:36:00 AM

A lovely poem about aging and our changing times! It's hard to keep up with them, if we even try...

Gary Radice
Date: 4/23/2021 12:27:00 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

Date: 4/20/2021 3:08:00 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
Date: 4/21/2021 1:01:00 AM

Yes, it was all so new back then :) Cheers Christopher - Gary

Constance La France

Date: 3/27/2021 4:54:00 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
Date: 3/28/2021 12:32:00 AM

Thanks Constance for your comments and sponsoring the competition. Cheers - Gary.

David Kavanagh

Date: 3/14/2021 5:47:00 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
Date: 3/14/2021 6:07:00 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

Date: 3/13/2021 6:43:00 PM

Superb write Gary. Such a strong tribute to love enduring that defies time's change. Best wishes, Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 3/14/2021 1:42:00 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

Date: 3/10/2021 4:23:00 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
Date: 3/10/2021 4:42:00 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

Date: 3/9/2021 1:23:00 PM

The very defintion of Poetic and Rhythmic Gary Enough no more need to be said

Christopher Flaherty
Date: 3/11/2021 3:38:00 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
Date: 3/10/2021 12:01:00 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
Date: 3/9/2021 1:24:00 PM

Youthful Fresh

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 3/3/2021 1:22:00 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
Date: 3/3/2021 1:44:00 PM

Thank you Michelle. :)

Edward Ibeh

Date: 3/3/2021 4:16:00 AM

Amazing piece, Gary:-) An enjoyable, delightful read!

Gary Radice
Date: 3/3/2021 4:28:00 AM

Edward, thanks so much for your visit and valued comments. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 3/2/2021 6:27:00 AM

Returned to say congrats. Way to go. Sara

Gary Radice
Date: 3/2/2021 6:58:00 AM

Thanks Sara!

Sara Kendrick

Date: 3/1/2021 2:30:00 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
Date: 3/1/2021 2:35:00 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

Date: 3/1/2021 11:25:00 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
Date: 3/1/2021 11:49:00 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

Date: 3/1/2021 9:47:00 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
Date: 3/1/2021 11:05:00 AM

Thank you Rama. I like it when people can relate to my poetry. I appreciate your comments. Cheers - Gary

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 3/1/2021 6:41:00 AM

This is wonderful!!! xomo

Gary Radice
Date: 3/1/2021 12:40:00 PM

Thank You! :)

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 3/1/2021 7:46:00 AM

Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 3/1/2021 6:52:00 AM

Thanks Maureen. We celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary recently. :) Cheers - Gary