Rhyme & Reason - a reason to rhyme

    A town in Northern Ireland   Historic castle, there,   Is reknowned in a song now,   It's sung, with loving care.    In Canada, now living,   Return home, - not scheduled   Retired, in 'ssisted living,   The given care, quite good.   The town, is Carrickfergus   First half of name, - best known.   Quite soon though, I'LL be movin'   To second half, I'm goin'.   Though NOT to TOWN by that name,   There IS one, not too far,   It's only 40 mins away   When traveling by car.   The new place I will go to,   Is Fergus Place, by name,   I trust the care received there   Be better, if not the same.

The button shows a wheelchair So those who, close, can't get, To pull the doorway open, May use, to entry, let. Howe'er, like most things out there, Advantage oft is taken,  By those who can be lazy, Their muscles, have forsaken. It's easier to do so, Than exert their muscle power, To cause them, least exhaustion,  To keep the door ajar. So there are very few now, Who act'lly PULL the door, Button is much easier, Their muscle use, - a chore.

The first wedding that I recall, Was as a six year old, Mum knew I would have been best 'fit'  I did, as I was told. I had been asked to take a role In wedding, I was 'game', It should have been the one 'bove me Since, he held groom's surname However, mum knew that I was To assist, MUCH  more willing  The day was one I'll ne'er forget, I found it so fulfilling    Another cousin'd take part too Bridesmaid, cous'n of groom,  His mother's sister's eldest girl,    'Twas also MY day to 'bloom' Was driven to the bridesmaids home My aunt and uncle, too HER sister, young  ( aged ten to twelve, )  With pride, went "ga ga goo"          Aft' getting out of car, I heard, 'Twas said with loving warmness "Ach mammy, look at wee Colin Isn't he gorgeous?"                                                   ...

  Laying in the corridor Of hospital, Grand River, Numbness in my lower jaw Fine otherwise, no fever. Had numbness been on one side A 'T.I.A.' ( or 'stroke')? Might have caused me more concern, For, otherwise, healthy bloke. Blood samples have been taken, Jaw numbness does remain, Otherwise, I feel okay, Not knowing, is the pain. Will I get a wink of sleep? Or will THAT only come Whene'er they tell me to return To residence, called home? And will THAT be in morning Or some time in-between, Whene'er that furniture, called "bed" By my eyes, will be seen?        * * * * * * * * * * * * *  All night on 'guerney', corridor Of hospital, I've been, Know not the time, hoping, today, By doctor, will be seen. Did see the doctor, given pills Will start tomorrow morn., On dosages and trusting that I'll soon be, as, when born.

 The building I reside in Demolished, soon, will be, In order to expand in size To care for more, like me. They want to build up higher So must, deeper go too, Stability to be ensured, Firm base for structure, due.  So all of us, the res'dents, To other care homes, go; To wait, until we all have passed, Would really be too slow. The process, got me thinking, Of living life, each day, In order for OUR pers'nal growth WE must put things away. Get rid of pers'nal hindrance Preventing growing strong, WE cannot grow while we're pulled down By things that don't belong.

  My dad was a hard worker, Sole earner,  twenty years, So mum could raise their children, All six of us "wee dears" As tradesman in a company, He, private work did, too, So they could "make ends meet" each month, Buy food, pay bills, when due. Aft. 'rriving home and eating, The paper, lifted he, Soon after, came the snoring, Was tired, 'twas plain to see. If television channels  (Back then 'twas two, then three) We're changed, amid the snoozing, Instantly woke, did he.  "Hey, I was watching that" came out, When told, asleep, he'd court, "I was just resting my eyes" Was always his retort.

      WALKING COMPANION     .  . .   I have a walking partner who, When on those sunny days, If I, outside, go treading, With me, he often plays.   Sometimes he lags behind me, Or he goes on ahead, At other times beside me, Though, not a word is said.   He's very quiet at all times, Whenever he does show, Though I have never really To him, ev'n said 'hello'.   Should I e'er walk at fast pace,  As I am apt to do, He does keep up; and with me Will stay, the whole time through. Though, unlike me, he never Gets out of breath, or tired, Just tags along, a-nearby, His stamina, admired.      He doesn't like damp weather, Or when the sky has cloud. He must remain at home, then, As if he's not allowed.    He is the quiet companion, A friend sure,  NOT a foe, And if you haven't guessed by now? His name is "My Shadow".

  To the tune "where do I go from here" (Jim Reeves) Where did the summer go? Why's winter always slow? How I wish the longer days could last. Too long, the colder days, Wrapped up, cause no sun's rays, Way too soon the summer season's past. Love to sit in sunshine, To show some colour, rouge, Shorts, the only clothing, The scent of morning dews. Skies so blue, no clouds of grey, Bulky clothing's not in way, Just the rays of sunshine, on your face. Sandy beaches call your name, Getting colour, is the game, Gloom full winter mem'ries to erase. Days which linger longer, Before the evening falls, Children, soak up sunshine, Then hear their parents calls. Everyone seems happy, then, Grouchiness stays in 'the pen' Summer makes ecstatic faces glow.

  No longer am I slim and trim Since move to "Studios" Though while the midriff has now grown, I YET, can see my toes. The old adage of "middl'age spread", Has raised it's ugly face, The food they're serving every meal Is settling in ONE place. Since I have also, now, retired, Once active, now, not so, The power derived from food, thus has  No place , therefore, to go. So it just stays where it does land, Not turned to energy, It can't be hidden now, alas, It's plain, for ALL to see.