Village Hall Christmas 1959

Village Hall Christmas 1959

Wind howling along country lanes

Lights flickering upon the hills

Where wives were busy at the stove

Whilst husbands fed the cattle in their stalls

Kitchens filled with smells of baking

Tables laid with bowls of trifle

Sprinkles and whipped cream on top

The trunk loaded the family piles in the car

Excited children cramped on the back seat

Cars parked in gateways near the hall

The small brick building already overflowing

A short play with Mary Joseph and the baby

A few carols belted out without harmony

A time when we knew every verse

Then the rush to the kitchen tables

To stuff young bellies full of food

Dad’s swilling down the pints of beer

Wives downing glasses of fine Port

Mountains of mince pies varnishing

Hills of sausage rolls washed away

Neatly stacked turkey sandwiches

Toppled as hungry mouths are filled

Trifle gobbled up from dishes

A Christmas tree in a bucket

Shedding needles in the heat

Windows strewn with greenery

Paper chains pinned to the beams

The crackle of the needle on a 78

Signals that a dance has now begun

Lux flakes sprinkled upon the boards

Slow swaying on a crowded floor

I look for Olwen and find a smile

In my dreams she was always mine

Sybil guides her partner towards the door

A quick exit into the cloaks

A little bit of You know what for

The clock slips past the midnight hour

Weary bodies pile back into cars

Home to get a few hours of sleep

Then rising to feed cattle and sheep

The party a symbol of village unity

A gathering that binds us in the countryside

Depending on each other for community

The love that neighbours show with pride

I wonder if that Christmas spirit is still alive

Copyright: David Hopcroft December 2024

Perspectives in Life

Perspectives in life

Olga could only see the street as boarded up doors

Through broken windows dust-covered carpets on floors

The people she rarely spoke to and described them as bores

They had coloured skin a strange language and different laws

Olga could only see the litter dropped on the street

Hated the corners where those in ragged clothes would meet

As far as she was concerned their lives she would delete

She wanted the glitter and glamour of the city light

The neon light the action of the clubs at night

Gifts of expensive dresses from men were her delight

She searched so hard for the man who might

Tanya saw the queue outside the chapel for the soup

She saw distress and volunteered for the kitchen group

Felt good when she helped a young child mend a hoop

Told the little girl in rags that she looked cute

She gave her time to help clear litter from the street

She was soon joined by others that she would meet

Helped with the construction of the old ones’ seat

Joined in to help the young form a club at night

Shared their music and saw joy and delight

One showed selfishness and the other sowed God’s seed

Where one felt only greed the other so clearly saw need

Copyright: David Hopcroft May 2024

Sometimes I am shocked to read or see posts that denigrate an area and do not see they spread discord and hate. Communities are built around love and care and we need to find that not run away from the need.