5/28/2017 1:34:08 PM
Kevin Shaw
Posts: 9
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The Lost Years
Edie
Edie looks well for her age,
Hard to believe she’s almost94.
A widow wife these past 72years,
Lost husband Bill, in the 2ndWorld war.
Bill was presumed killed inaction,
Though his body, was never found.
Silently she grieved all theseyears,
Was he lying, in unmarkedground?
Edie lives in a small countrycottage,
In the High Peak town ofGlossop.
Moved from Ashton in theFifties,
To work in the local Hosieryshop.
Two siblings, Jean and TommyJoe
Good friends, who love her dear.
Whist Drive and Dom’s in theFeathers,
A Natter and glass of Stoutbeer.
Bingo at the Workers onSunday,
You’d be surprised how oftenshe’s won.
A feisty, keenly independentlady,
An old girl who likes to havefun.
Edie often asked herself thequestion;
Why did they send her Bill tofight?
A proud and gallant youngsoldier,
She oftenfelt something, wasn’t right.
One icy cold night after Bingo,
Edie slipped and fracturedher wrist.
A short stay in TamesideGeneral,
A break from the Feathers andthe Whist.
She met an old man in the dayroom,
Who appeared to catch her stare,
Watching TV with a foot inplaster,
“Two broken bones, don’t welook a pair”.
Gilbert
Badly injured and barelyconscious,
Gilbert was nursed by acouple in Dieppe.
They guessed that he wasEnglish,
Falling exhausted at theirdoorstep.
Eleven long years they caredfor him
Before they sadly passed away.
Loving, adoptive Frenchparents,
Made ready, his liberationday.
Gilbert doesn’t recall, lifebefore the war.
Left Dieppe for Manchester,Summer of ‘55.
In a curious, MancunianFrench accent,
Would say “I’m just thankful to be alive”.
Although he barely spokeEnglish,
He was drawn to theLancashire hills.
Learnt a trade in TimothyWhite’s,
and alifetime of dispensing pills.
Gilbert lives at Ashton GroveResidential,
A home befitting this BachelorKing.
No one really knows how oldhe is,
But he can certainly joke,dance and sing.
One night he tripped upon hisstage,
Falling awkward, he broke hisleft foot.
A short stay in TamesideGeneral,
Protested, but knew he muststay put.
Edie and Gilbert
Edie and Gilbert would talkfor hours,
During their rather impromptustay.
As if they’d known each otherforever
In some emotional, perceptiveway.
Gilbert had lost his earlyyears,
But reflected of a full andwonderful life.
Edie was gracious andcontented,
Despite 72 years, a widowwife.
Edie was as giddy as a schoolgirl,
As she listened to Gilbertsromancing.
In adversity had never felthappier,
Her young heart, ready fordancing.
He smiled in a way she’dremember,
Of a time that made her heartfill.
Smiling back, put her hand tohis face,
and witha tearful eye asked;
“is that you Bill”?
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