<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <span class="mceItemObject" classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> </span> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p>After reading Caroline's post on <a href="entry/WoW-2-The-Tree-Year">trees, </a>I got to thinking of all those I often observe, photograph and think about.&nbsp; To begin with, here is an example of my winning poem based on the theme of a tree.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>January 2009</strong> <br /> Firstly, a special thank you to, (Rev) Linda Price; a poet and composer, who voted for my poem as the winner of the first poetry competition to be held in: <em>The Pages </em>magazine, hosted by Marit Meredith and her daughter, Kristina Meredith (Stina).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The poetry competition was based on a beautiful photograph of autumnal trees, which was enough to inspire me to write a poem, entitled: <strong><em>The Memorial Trees</em></strong>. As well as writing about a personal loss that affected our immediate family, and in particular my elder daughter, who shared the same autumnal birthday as her beloved Grandpa, I felt that the demise of the Second World War veterans should also be universally commemorated.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It was a great thrill to be announced the winner and receive a prize of &pound;25, not just on behalf of my family, but for all Normandy veterans like Grandpa and their remaining families. To read the poem, here is the address: <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/theapprenticewriter/">http://www.freewebs.com/theapprenticewriter/</a> Issue 4, page 9.&nbsp; February 2009.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <span class="mceItemObject" classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> </span> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Memorial Trees</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">I thought of autumn</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">when Normandy veterans lowered their flags</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and a bugler began to play the <em>Last Post</em>...</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and of memorial trees</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">trooping the seasonal colours</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">with leaves all emblazed</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">to celebrate their living victories</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">before they fall and rest in peace</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">on waiting ground that root</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">those treasured memories.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">I thought of autumn</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and remembered my arm</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">was tucked tenderly in yours</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">as you fondly recalled lost comrades</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">when we walked through the woods...</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and of memorial trees</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">as the late sun's luminous shawls</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">enshrine them with burning pride</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">to commemorate their living histories</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">before they fall and rest in peace</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">on waiting ground that root</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">those treasured memories.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">I thought of autumn</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and remembered you saying</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">how the mourning trees</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">were like ageing soldiers</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">reliving their fading memories...</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">and of &nbsp;Normandy veterans who raised their flags</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">to proudly honour your passing - Grandpa -</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">as a bugler played the <em>Reveille</em>.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Marilyn Sylvester&copy;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <span class="mceItemObject" classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> </span> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These images of Mo's memorial mosaic I took<strong> </strong>a few months ago. The tribute to the ex-Redcar Labour MP, who died aged 55 in August 2005, was paid for by a &pound;14,000 appeal fund.&nbsp; To read more: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/8321773.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/8321773.stm</a></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tonight at 9 pm on Channel 4, Oscar-nominated actor Julie Walters is to play the late Mo Mowlam, the former Northern Ireland secretary, in a new single drama.&nbsp; To read more: </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/25/julie-walters-mo-mowlam-channel-4</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>