The Lighthouse

Round and round goes the light

Casting its beam into the night.

A ship appears on the tide

And drops its anchor down the side.

Round and round goes the light

Casting its beam into the night.

A ship with lights aft and fore

Comes to rest away from the shore.

Round and round goes the light

Casting its beam into the night.

A container ship sails in on the tide

Now they wait for the harbour guide.

A small boat sails out against the tide

Soon the pilots are alongside.

Up rope ladders they have to climb

Then they wait for the right time.

High waves roll in towards the land

Crashing on rocks and golden sand.

The sailors hear the noisy din

Now they know it is time to sail in.

Soon the smoke is rising high

Going from funnel to the sky.

The boats are moving one, two, three

Up to their unloading quay.

Round and round goes the light

Casting its beam into the night.

With its lofty glistening dome

The lighthouse guides the sailors home.

Thomas Conlon, Kirk Merrington, Spennymoor.

A Tale of Two Spiders

While musing alone in the bathroom

As you do at the start of the day,

My clothes spread around in piles on the ground,

I saw it coming my way.

It was moving quite slowly really,

But steadily heading for me.

Then it went into hiding, slipping and sliding

'Cos we've just had the floor tiled, you see.

Back into view once again,

From out of the folds of my vest.

It ran then it stopped and slowly it flopped

Was it dead or having a rest?

I looked for the means to counter this threat,

A piece of damp tissue would do.

So deftly and slick, I scooped it up quick

And then how my confidence grew.

I found a convenient casement

Reached up and flighted its glide.

Back into fresh air, back to its lair,

Spiders should all stay outside.

I returned to my musing quite happy

When a movement just caught my eyes.

Was it, I reflected, the one I'd ejected

No, this was a different size.

It was small but its pace was electric

As it teasingly scuttled away

And then I thought, to heck with this sport

Forget it! Get on with your day.

E Scarlett, Haxby, York.

The Day That You Wed

The day that you wed

(or so it's said),

Is the happiest day of your life.

But that all depends on a number of things

Not least who you take for a wife.

She may be an angel and your life will be sublime.

If you marry a shrew,

for your single state you will very often pine.

So think very carefully who you choose for a wife,

An angel or a shrew it's up to you.

But if you make the wrong choice

You'll have the rest of your life in which to rue.

Mary Wright, Shildon.

The Beauty Of Song

If you ever feel low and worries be near

The chance of a smile is eclipsed with a tear,

Sit for a while and listen with ease

To the songbird that sings alone in the trees.

When life has thrown stones, bitterness creeps

Inside our soul remorsefulness seeps,

But the wonders of nature are always around

We should be so grateful and ever so proud.

When the moon settles down and the sun whispers through.

The songbird will sing and that song is for you,

This wondrous life - taste it and feel

Soon all the bad time are starting to heal.

Jan Frances Connor, Langley Park, Durham.

My and My Teddy Bear

How comforting it is to know

That everywhere that I may go

My teddy bear is always there.

Soft and warm, holding tight

As I go up to bed at night.

And as I sit and hold the chair

He is playing with my hair.

And from our eyes you can tell

We love each other very well.

For we are the best of friends,

Together always 'till life ends.

So everyone, I do declare

Should adopt a teddy bear.

They are a gift from God above

And all they need is lots of love.

Elizabeth Tomlinson, Richmond.

No Hiding Place

The bishop tried to keep it dark

He'd dallied with the maid.

The evidence was much too strong

However hard he prayed.

He said he would resign his post.

He thought it would be best.

In the vestry they had found her pants

In her pantry found his vest.

Bill Cooksey, Newton Aycliffe.

Feathered Friends

On the dark and dusky lake,

Sits Mother Goose, still awake,

Her children are sleeping very well,

But she can't sleep, as you can tell.

She watches out for fear of foe,

Where danger lurks, who can know?

Her family are her joy and pride,

So in the reeds she goes to hide.

A fox came by the river bank,

Oh no, she thought, as her heart sank.

My goslings must be safe from harm,

But I must stay extremely calm.

Luckily a dog came by,

It did not catch the fox's eye,

The dog pulled on the fox's tail,

The fox let out a mighty wail.

The fox was flung into the dirt

And Mother Goose was left unhurt,

The fox was left in one big heap

The goslings were still fast asleep.

Robyn Wilson, aged 8, Trimdon Village.

The Yorkshire Market

The market is for everyone

Bargain hunting too.

Young and old together

Expecting something new.

Gaudy materials all on show

Porcelain pottery painted so bright.

Food for the housewife,

Stalls with cakes and sweets

To buy for a special treat.

Farmers, butchers, bakers

All buying and selling

And shouting and yelling

To get their bargain.

Oh how lovely

To save my money

On a market day.

Rita Jeff, Richmond.

Richard

The night Richard was born it wasn't really fair

He was three weeks too early, I know, I was there.

The trip to the hospital wasn't that far

Only Malcolm had taken the wheels off our car.

It was just that things didn't go according to plan

And I finished up in the front of Wilf's van.

We were a little late, you will understand why

Malcolm couldn't decide whether to change his tie.

I stood by the door, clutching my case packed and ready

And took Malcolm's arm for he wasn't too steady.

We arrived quite safely, the staff seemed so kind.

I said I was sorry but I'd changed my mind.

I had a warm bath then came the big treat

My first ever enema made me fast on my feet.

Much later our son was born - I had never worked so hard

But when they showed him to me he was thickly covered in lard.

And his head, I must confess, was well and truly pointed

So, all in all, I admit I was a little disappointed.

I had to go and see him so they wouldn't think I didn't care

I wandered into the nursery and saw a sister there.

She was holding a beautiful baby so I knew it wasn't mine

But beaming she handed him to me and suddenly suns began to shine.

I'd finally got something right. Yes me, the useless one

Had let loose on the world another Egglestone!!

Ann Egglestone, Darlington.