Friends and laughter aplenty

Athletics in the Park

Kissing boys after dark.

London Beech, Oak and Plane -

Watching the merry-go-round again and again.

Married now and striking out

Leaving London’s hurly-burly

For rural peace and tranquillity.

Berkshire Chestnut, Larch and Cedar -

Seeing our early mistakes and labour.

Children given life, grow and go

Sturdy sons now with lives of their own

Empty nest syndrome.

Yorkshire Elder, Rowan and Hawthorn -

Viewing us all through every storm.

Adjustment, change, uncertainty

New language and customs to learn

Seeking answers at every turn.

Spanish Citrus, Almond and Olive -

Oh the pleasure you and retirement can give.

An unremarkable life but mine and no other

Schoolgirl, office girl, wife, mother

And who knows what’s to come.

All through though there’s been a consistency -

The beauty of trees, sustaining me.