Norah Carter

Chingford, London

I was born on 13th December 1916 at Edmonton, London. I was educated at Latymer School. I am single and one of a family of eight. Finally lived with my brother Alfred, an organist and pianist. My brother Henry was a trumpeter and brother Ronald a pianist. I am a retired Civil Servant. My hobbies include singing in the TWG Choir, poetry reading, many written for "Arthritis Care," theatre and supporting "Chapel End Savoy Players," an Operatic Society of which I was a member for many years. I have had many poems published by Poetry Now, Arrival Press, Anchor Books, Poetry Today and The International Society of Poets. Writing personal poems gives me most pleasure. I have received many letters from the Queen Mother and a personal letter from Princess Diana.

The Space Age

The underground, the underground, it drives me to despair
I cannot even estimate the cost in wear and tear
It's packed to full capacity, I never get a seat,
In fact, there's barely room enough for me to put my feet.

I try my best to hold the strap, but that's no good at all
You see, I cannot reach, because I'm barely five feet tall
I rock and roll and toss about as if I'm on a boat
And suddenly I feel an arm stretched out across my throat.

You may think I exaggerate when telling of my woes,
But worse things have befallen me than treading on my toes.
In fact, one day I turned my head and found to my dismay
There wasn't room to turn it back, so there it had to stay.

If only one could board a train and find a cosy nook,
In which to sit in comfort, have a snooze or read a book,
Or take time off for silent thought and thus prepare the way
in calmness and serenity, to meet the coming day.

Saint Patrick

Long ago there lived a boy and Patrick was his name.
But never did he ever dream that he would rise to fame.
For one day pirates captured him and sold him as a slave
And took him off to Ireland where he was bold and brave.

He tended sheep and did his best in all he had to do,
Because he was a Christian and his heart was good and true.
But one day he escaped to Gaul, in order to be free
And there he heard a Voice from Heaven speaking quietly.

"Go back to Ireland, Patrick, for the Irish need you so,
To teach and preach of Jesus Christ, of whom they do not know"
And there, he picked a Shamrock and explained the Trinity
And demonstrated 'Three in One' as simply as could be.

The people loved to listen to the things he had to say,
When telling Christian stories in his gentle kindly way,
So he was proud and happy when a Bishop he was made
And felt so very grateful to the Voice he had obeyed.

So that is how the mitre and the Shamrock Leaf became
The Emblems of the Country that had brought St Patrick fame.
The 17th of March, we know, became, St. Patrick's day
And the Irish will remember every time they kneel and pray.