Mary Stephenson Ellams

Stratford, UK

I was born 85 years ago in a Cheshire country cottage and educated in the village C of E primary school and later in a city RC convent. My parents were well versed in the Bible and poet's philosophy, used in general conversation. They were very interested in our work and hobbies. As a teacher I continued my education in various schools in England and New Zealand, beginning with war time evacuation. Travel has always been my delight and the scenes I witnessed naturally fall into verse. Apart from the International Society of Poets I am a member of RNLI, World Wild Life and International Cancer Research.

Blue Gums

On their long, slim, silver stems
The plumes of the blue gum sway,
Each feather a lancet leaf,
Each proud plume green blue grey.

The pale trunks like white wands
As they sway their plumes on high;
The plumes like puffs of smoke
Against the clear blue sky.

Each bows to the whispering wind
And flutters and ripples aloft;
The blood in each red vein gleams
As the spear in the sun is caught.

A Life Time

Those were the days,
Ay, those were the days,
Leaping o'er puddles
And making up plays,
Dreaming of islands in tropical seas
Of snow covered mountains and exotic trees

But oh, how reality transcends the dream!
Climbing aboard and "Ahead - full steam!"
To plant your feet on a foreign shore
Where thousands like you have done before
Where civilisations are buried below
And their relics of art are all that we know.
Music and dance and pillars of stone
Ballads and legends their heroes have shown

My travels done, I cannot roam
I must, per force, remain at home.
My hearings gone, my eyes are dim
Weakness displayed in every limb.
Like sundials between the showers
I register the sunny hours.

Save the Children

See the dark face
large eyes appealing,
Withered, distorted limbs
Scant clothes revealing.
You who are fair of face
British, American,
Do not just pity them
Smugness concealing

One out of every five
Born to starvation
Needing some concrete help
From this you nation.
Give them of your health
Unstinted effort,
Yours is the power and wealth
Organisation