Hope is an unexpected letter. "Hey, we love you. Please get better." Hope is a voice from long ago Ringing up to say "Hello". Hope is a young and puzzled brow; A smile, that says "I get it now." Hope turns up to sweep and scrub When fools have vandalised the club. Hope takes part in Sponsored Walks. Hope puts up with boring talks. Hope's a well that's truly sunk, Healthy water, gladly drunk. Faith and Love are Jack and Jill; Hope will help them up the hill. Hope is....Hope is

Try this one if you want to interest children (or grownups) in the music of words Dong - ding - ding dong (Sounding words can sing a song) Twitter - cackle - hoot - screech - (Speaking words can tell and teach) Whizz - buzz - hum - zoom - (An angry wasp invades my room) Creaks - bangs - clattering crashes - (A tray slips - a bottle smashes) Howl - growl - snuffle - bark - (Something's out there in the dark) Giggle - mutter - mumble - cough - (Time to switch this poem off!) Li

COLLECTING OLD CLOTHES (While working for The Salvation Army in West London, I was often invited to collect 'jumble'. While some people simply wanted to offload their junk, others had precious treasure to donate. It was important to distinguished between the two) She packed them in a cardboard box And locked them in the garden shed: Neatly folded shirts and socks. "These were his working boots" she said. The books, beside his rake and shears Awaken thoughts too deep for

AN EPISTLE OF THANKS TO MEMBERS OF STIRLING ROWING CLUB AFTER RECEIVING A BIRTHDAY CARD Dear oarsmen – women tae - whae glide Along the Forth at Riverside, My strong surprise I couldnae hide. I stood and stared; But then my puir hert swelled wi’pride Tae read your caird. Tae works of charity inclined, Ye kept my birthday weel in mind. Whit helpfu’ words ye wrote and signed! I’ll aye remember A welcome gesture, wise and kind, In dreich November. Sae noo this