F. Kenrick

Dalton-in-Furness, UK

Born 1930 in the little town of Dalton-in-Furness, at that Time in north west Lancashire. My schooling was more of an endurance that enjoyment. Teaching methods then being much different than from todays. Joined the Royal Navy in 1948 for seven years. I served on the cruiser. H.M.S. Ceylon during the Korean War, where my outlook on life was changed dramatically. Married in 1954, I finished my time with the R.N. Then we settled in my home town, where we still live. I started writing poetry after being made redundant in 1991.

Harbingers of Spring

Springs just around the corner
The harbingers we see
The bulbs are pushing through the earth
And bulbs adorn the trees
Now days are getting longer
Nights not quite so dark
The sun rays getting stronger
And fields don't look so stark
The hedgerow starts to thicken
As plants begin to grow
This forms a perfect hiding place
For the birds to go
They nest and fledge their young there
And fill the air with song
They know they've got to hurry
Spring doesn't last for long.

My Childhood Home

The little place where I was born
Was beautiful to me
Though only fourteen houses
A farm, a field, a tree
To me it was enchanted
So much for me to see
No where quite so beautiful
Could there ever be
The children I grew up with,
Adventures that we shared.
If a meal we had to miss
We never really cared.
Our days were spent exploring
The fields and woods around,
No sweeter smelling meadows
Ever could be found
Our carol singing christmas time.
With candles stuck in jars.
The light upon the country side,
Came only from the stars.
The haunting call of creatures
Only heard at night,
As a calling curlew
Pass's by in flight.
I now see many changes
To this littlw place.
As hedges disappear,
Will never be replaced.
Fields ripped and torn asunder
Where once we used to roam.
They've spoiled the natural beauty
That was my childhood home.