Anniversary Poems

This is an extract of a poem written to mark the anniversary of Namasagali International School (with thanks to Persis for allowing us to use the poem on the website)

Deep in Uganda was a school
Some 20 years ago;
Namasagali was its name,
I went there so I know.

I also know it was a shrine
Where miracles were wrought;
Upon the lucky, lucky few –
Us children that it taught.

We students who were planted there
As simple seeds were sown;
But how we were to grow and bloom
We never could have known.

How could we have foreseen and how
Could we have been aware
That lawyers, doctors, teachers, artists
Sat as children there?

One visionary saint there was –
Perhaps he saw at times
The treasures that lay latent there
For he was father Grimes.

He saw the beauties of the world
So rich and marvellous
And knew the talents that were stored
In every one of us.

So under his most loving care
Each petal then unfurled
And spread as envoys of his word
To all around the world.

To Canada, Uganda, Denmark,
England, U.S.A.
To Sweden – and so many more
There's more than I can say.

Though so far flung in distant lands,
We all are so delighted
To travel any distance here
To be thus re-united.

This is a poem written for the 150th Anniversary of Edwin Ainsworth Ltd (funeral directors) and was commissioned to be read by nine year old Melissa (with thanks to Edwin Ainsworth Ltd for allowing us to use the poem on the website)

Way back in 1856
James Ainsworth was the man
Who in a street named after him
The business first began.

The carriage then it reigned supreme
Before the car was born;
So carriages were built by him
And by his horses drawn.

They'd ply their very solemn trade
And for the mourners' sake
With dignity James Ainsworth would
All matters undertake.

But did you know that in those days
One more thing he began?
From Ainsworth St to Blackburn town
The 1st bus service ran.

I rather like the horse and cart
Or carriage should I say.
You often see they are still used
On people's wedding day:

So looking lovely and in state
The bride and groom are sat.
And when it's time for me to go,
I'd like to go like that.

I think that is a great idea
It might make things less sad;
It might turn out to be a hit
I'll have a word with Dad.

But just for now that cannot be
For now departed souls
Must settle for a second best
A Bentley, Jag or Rolls.

James ran the firm for 20 years
Then Edwin took it on
Until he died in 1912
And then it was his sons'.

One thing is very very strange
About the mathematics
Outstanding in our history is
The number 56.

In 1856 it's launched
And those 2 mavericks,
Edwin and then also James,
Both died age 56.

If with the business you have been
Involved at any stage,
You'd really better watch your step
When you get to that age.

Big changes in the following years
Began in '31
Expansion brought in outside help
A new regime's begun.

Then taxi services were run
And petrol too was sold
A Humber, their first car, was bought
Or so I have been told………

I'm much too young to know all this
But TWO are not – they say,
Jack Grimshaw – Edna Ainsworth are
Both with us here to day.

To end let's pray a little prayer
And this is what it's for:
That Edwin Ainsworth limited
May last one fifty more!

A poem to celebrate the 30th Wedding Anniversary of Charlotte's Parents (with thanks to Charlotte for allowing us to use the poem on the website)

Well over 30 years ago
A man on a Lambretta
Looked up and saw a gorgeous girl –
He never would forget her.

In turn she thought him pretty cool
With sexy long dark hair;
And rather overcome, she thought
"I wonder if I dare …"

A friend sensed this : "You want a date?
I'll ask him – just say when …"
"Oh no!" she giggled and ran off.
It ended there and then.

But 2 years later – there he was!
Her mind was in a whirl –
She saw him with a bunch of flowers …
But for another girl.

A while she shared him with this girl –
He was a kind of floater
He skipped between the 2 each week –
A strange romantic rota …

Until our Grandad came along
And said to Mum "Young Miss!"
He must be made to make a choice,
It can't go on like this."

It wasn't very hard for Dad,
He always loved Mum best.
He'd seen her when he shouldn't have
So when he faced this test …

"You will be mine!" he said to Mum,
His hand in hers he slid.
From then they never have looked back:
We're glad they never did.

Soon everything was hotting up,
Things weren't allowed to droop:
There's Mum and Dad – the weather too –
And then there was the soup …

Mum stood behind the cooker and
The minestrone stirred;
Then, resonating in her head,
These wondrous words she heard:

"Oh Bev stop cooking for a while
The soup I'm sure is fine;
Please say that you will marry me,
Please say that you'll be mine."

From then until this very day
You'll see them hand in hand –
Like newly weds, or those just met
In lovers' fairyland.

Expensive jewellery and gems
Our loving father buys her;
Then wraps them up as something else
In order to surprise her.

Mum, in return, she does her best
To show an interest in
The things he liked – just like his bike –
So she went for a "spin."

The "spin" from Devon took 5 hours
Through hail and wind and rain;
Though Mum loves Dad so very much
She won't do that again.

"True love it never does run smooth"
For so the poet writes.
And now we must report, I fear,
Some pretty nasty fights …

Their car somewhere on Purley Way
Came to a sudden stop;
And mum, defiant, got right out
And walked home in a strop –

The neighbours' concrete fireplace
Dad dropped upon the floor;
But Mum's toe nail was in the way –
The toe nail is no more.

We trembled as her mood grew black
And blacker did it grow
Until it looked exactly like
The colour of her toe.

But though it was an accident
To Mother he'd done wrong:
But still however black things were
Things were not black for long …

Whoever started it? Who cares
Which way the blame should fall.
Put on that short, black sexy dress
And he'll forgive her all.

So they, through thick and thin have been
Together thirty years
She shares all that belongs to him
And he shares what is hers.

To Mum and Dad – let's raise a glass
"Your anniversary."
An inspiration to us all
And yours, we're proud to be.

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Anniversary Poems

Example poems