Poetry by Doreen Fawcett

Rosie and Me

Soft brown eyes looking at me
No need for words we have, telepathy.
She looks so cute with her black shiny hair
Brushed and combed with lots of care.
Full of mischief, never still
Kind and loving, strong of will.

My constant companion and best friend
Un-conditional love that has no end.
When I go out and come home late
There is no argument, nor complaint.
Patiently waiting, knowing so well
I’ll be back soon with news to tell.

Whatever the weather she wants to go
See her sulk if I say no.
We go to the beach and watch the sea
Lost in our own thoughts, she and me.
Just like clockwork, she seems to know
Time for tea, we have to go.

Her legs are short, her feet are big
She sheds enough hair to make a wig.
She gives me kisses and wags her tail
And leaves yet another muddy trail.
Her job to protect, she does so well
Her bark so loud when you ring the doorbell.

Friends are welcome in our abode
But, Please take notice of this ode.
You will always be offered a coffee or tea
No paw prints or black hairs, no guarantee!
To care for each other, as you can see
It’s what we do well, Rosie and Me.

Our Village

We came from Yorkshire and drove around
Turned off the main road and guess what we found?
A quaint fishing village at the edge of the sea
With cobles and crab pots and café’s for tea.

We walked round the point, round the churchyard too
Then went inside and sat on a pew
Quiet and peaceful is the church of St Bart
Standing proudly at the villages’ heart.

The people we met there, friendly and true
Proud of their heritage, welcoming too
Call them Geordies, if you dare
Northumbrians are they, and of that, they care.

We see the fishermen land their catch
Hardworking, reliable, they have no match
Fishing at sea is their hard life
It’s good at days end, to go home to the wife

We listened to villagers, born and bred
Of good times, of hard times and marches led
Standing together, gathering strength to fight
Battling injustice, showing their might.

They told of the time when they were a bairn
Happy and carefree, life’s lessons yet to learn
Building sand castles, goals to score,
Sand in the sandwiches, “Please Mam, no more!”

Over the years, oh what a shock!
We’ve somehow lost “wor diving rock”
We searched for years, it can’t be found,
We ask the question, so profound
Can it possibly be?  “Wor diving rock” is under the sea?

The lifeboat on standby, crew always on call
Brave men always willing, to battle the squall
As you sit on the beach and build up your tan
Do you think of the danger, to the lifeboat man?

As I look at my husband’s empty chair
I’m grateful to have, good friends that care
A change of direction was needed by me
So I moved to “our village”, Newbiggin by the Sea

The Shout

Tucked up in bed, cosy and warm
Hearing the wind, blowing up a storm
The waves so high, crash on the rocks
Ships at sea, taking hard knocks
Alarm! Alarm! Up goes the “shout”
We have to take the lifeboat out.

It takes only minutes to get to the shore
For the volunteer crew, brave to the core
Like a well-oiled machine, is how they perform
Risking their lives, going out in the storm
The boat is launched, the race must be won
The sea so angry, a job to be done.

The powerful engine, whines her song
Jumping and bumping, speeding along
We come upon the stricken boat
Fear of the sailors, constricting their throat
“Listen to me and do what I say,
We'll be safe ashore by the break of day”

We don’t look for glory, comment or fuss
It’s just another a job for all of us
As we change from our clothing of yellow and black
The greeting we get, is a pat on the back
The boat is readied, back in her shed
Report to write, then it’s back home to bed.

Where you see the flag flying, door open wide
We’ll welcome you warmly, invite you inside
When you see the notice for our harbour day
Come and support us, you don’t have to pay
Meet our wives and mothers, children and crew
Manning our stalls, they have bargains for you.

Donations are welcome, legacies too
For maintaining our lifeboat, gear for the crew
We ask you this question, please answer it true
How much is your life worth, to your family and you?