Graham's Poetry
From Mayfield Salisbury Church Website
Poems by Ellen Forrester
Like the scene above now two in love may reign immortality
IMMORTAL
Mountains oh so beautiful, majestic and serene
Lakes and meadows by beyond enchanting like a dream
Where the heather blooms in cluster form a pattern so divine
Tranquillity surpassing all, enriched each day with time
For life itself is just a spell or two however long it's span
The achievement of your heart desire on attainment is its plan
So Grace your years with dignity
Together all the way
HOME
Every thing is where it should be
Right in place and polished too
Its where you go rest if could be
This is the place for you
Its just somewhere you hang your hat up
After a long and weary day
And tea is being poured in your favourite cup
What is best to come this way?
You can travel the world over
But when it comes to rest
Just like the wild rover
Congratulations "HOME IS BEST"
Not Gone and Not Forgotten - My Mum by Graham Forrester
My mum never had it easy even with my premature birth when she was 41. Lack of air and other scenarios resulting in me being announced by hospital doctors as being not expected to live past the age of 3. If I did I was not expected to be able to walk or talk. I was born in 1962.
To add to this my dad was killed by a train while working in Haymarket train station in 1965 resulting in my mum having to sleep in old houses that were to be demolished or under an old car cover on Arthur's Seat, with only a dry roll and some milk to live on each day for two years.
Mum got paid up for my Dad's death. At that time she reluctantly put me into care. Later she flew to Canada to visit friends she knew during the war and left me in the hands of my half sister and paid her well for it.
Three days later I was taken back home and left with a friend of my Mum's who drank a lot. As time passed my Mum tried to put me in the hands of people who could offer me a better life than she felt she could but gladly it never happened.
In between all of this we kept moving house and disrupting my schooling and proper chances of making lasting friendships. It did not help my Mum either.
During the seven years that we lived in the country in between my Mum doing jobs we had to take walks to forget we were hungry as the DHSS did not pay on random weeks. I remember walking into Edinburgh DHSS with my Mum and I was only 13 years old.
Throughout the years I have lost all my aunts and all but one uncle including grandparents and two of my half sisters. No need to say this must have affected my mum.
My mum kept a promise that she made with my dad. That no matter which one of them passed away first the one which was still alive was to make sure I had a place to live no matter what. I am proud of my mum.
The bond between us is still strong and like all relevant things will always be. I miss her greatly but I keep her memory alive in what I do daily.
She did all she could for me even at times when I did not deserve it. I have tried to repay her in many ways and will go on doing so,
One way I can do this is to live my life the best way that I can. I know that is what she would want.
I have some personal belongings including videos made of her and photographs - some with Mike, my mum and me in them and poems of hers.
I got my mum baptised with me at our church.
Looking back more so at the times when she tried to foster me off I'm glad that it did not happen. It was not meant and we had time and chances to find out why. We needed each other. I did tell my mum this some time before she died and on her last days I told her I was sorry for whatever I had put her through.
She was a devoted mother and I will always be a devoted son. The comfort I have apart from the few true friends I have and my mum's personal belongings is that she is at peace now and in the safe and protective hands of Jesus. She is still with me. She is not gone or forgotten nor will she ever be.
Ellen Forrester
As it will be a year since my mum's passing on Monday 27th August & since she was a member of our church & her funeral service was done there I would like to speak the lyrics of 2 Roy Orbison songs. One of which she loved and I am sure they will touch others hearts too. One is called "Remember The Good". The other is called "Something They Can't Take Away". This is the one my mum loved. The other signifies my thoughts now she is in heaven. Here are the words to both but done so they can be spoken.
Something They Can't Take Away.
All too soon we were blown uapon our separate ways again & Our warm summer dreams joined the falling leaves that tumbled in the wind. With the echo's of faces & voices & places & faces that I have left behind. I may die with out ever knowing happiness again leaving nothing behind but a line of lonely foot prints in the sand but I know that where ever I go I will never trade any thing I'll ever find for those times in the morning & at the close of the day when your memories come easier smiling then that's some thing they can't take away.
Remember the good
Yes I suppose I think about her. She was one so much a part of me. Heaven knows I've learnt to live without her & hell it was at times it was a painful memory. but for all that matters now if it does for all that tried to be but never was I'll forget the bad. All the good time's we had wont leave be quite so sad when I am remembering & far all the times I've cried I would not change it if I could for she meant to me I'll remember the good.
Thank you & take care
Graham Forrester.19/08/07