A place to get lost between the lines
Have you ever loved someone quietly from a distance, carrying feelings you could never quite bring yourself to reveal? Perhaps that love has remained with you not just for months or years, but for as long as twenty years. This poem explores the tenderness, uncertainty and enduring hope of a love that has remained unspoken for two decades.
For twenty years, my heart has known,
A quiet love that’s never shown.
The day we met, the world stood still,
A gentle spark, a silent thrill.
Each time our paths would intertwine,
The brightest moment became mine.
Your smile became my sunlit day,
"I'm glad you're here," I want to say.
But when you leave, the light departs,
A hollow echo fills my heart.
The words I long to say stay sealed,
A love so deep yet still concealed.
"So, if I asked, would you tell me true?"
Do you feel it? I cannot tell.
A secret song I guard so well.
For two decades, my soul’s refrain:
I love you still, through joy and pain.
My Soul’s Refrain
InspirationI was asked to write this poem for a dear friend who, for obvious reasons, shall remain nameless. He told me about a love he had carried quietly for twenty years — a feeling never fully spoken yet never forgotten. It became the inspiration for My Soul’s Refrain, a poem about affection held at a distance, the happiness of simply seeing someone, and all those words that remain unsaid. He has kindly given me permission to publish it. Before doing so, I asked him one question: “If she ever reads it, will she know it’s about her?” His answer was wonderfully simple. “She’ll know.”
Caught by the Tide
The waves rise high, the current strong,
I’ve battled here for far too long.
Seaford’s shore, once clear in sight,
Now fades into the creeping night.
Each kick, each stroke, a fight in vain,
The icy sea numbs me with pain.
I gasp for breath, my voice won’t sound,
As salt-filled waves pull me down.
Cold and tired, I drift, I sink,
Hope is lost; or so I think.
Then through the dark, a steady grip,
A voice, then below the waves I no longer slip.
"I've got you now; you're safe, just breathe,"
The lifeboat man won’t let me leave.
Through crashing waves, through endless deep,
He pulls me back from the channel’s keep.
Caught by the Tide is a tribute to the courageous men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In the most dangerous conditions, RNLI volunteers put their specialist training and skills to the fore to rescue those in distress at sea. This poem honours their bravery, compassion and unwavering determination to bring people safely home.
InspirationMy inspiration for writing this poem comes from witnessing, first-hand, the dedication of the crew who train week after week, often at weekends, off the Newhaven and Seaford coastline. Their commitment, discipline, and determination to continually develop the skills needed to perform their role safely and effectively is something I greatly admire.
Mirrors gleaming, row on row,
Chrome and colours steal the show.
Lights ablaze in yellow hue,
White and silver, Seaford blue.
Flags are flying by the sea,
Mod perfection, proud and free.
A two-wheeled star from days gone by,
Still turning heads as it rolls by.
Mirrors, Mods and Memories
InspirationLiving so close to Brighton, the Mod culture and the scooters associated with it have always felt part of the character and history of this stretch of the Sussex coast. The make and style of bike are instantly recognisable and have become iconic images of Brighton, particularly through their association with the Mod era and the most famous film of its time, Quadrophenia.
It’s Like Christmas Day, Every Day.
For fifteen years I’ve shared the way,
And gone to work with you each day.
Through early starts and evenings late,
I’ve watched you grow and shape your fate.
It’s Christmas morning every time,
A gift that grows with passing time.
For every day brings something new,
Another thought, another view.
I’ve watched your confidence appear,
Then strengthen with each passing year.
From quiet steps when first begun,
To standing tall in all you’ve done.
You brought technology through our door,
And showed me things I’d missed before.
New ways to work, new things to try,
You saw the future drawing nigh.
And somewhere on that winding track,
You found your niche and not looked back,
You found the place where you belong,
And with each year, you’ve grown so strong.
They smile and tell me, “He’s like you,”
And yes, perhaps in things we do.
A turn of phrase, a certain way,
A stubborn thought from day to day.
But when they say you’re just like me,
There’s something more they fail to see.
For you have grown beyond my stride,
And that’s the source of all my pride.
You’ve taken what I tried to teach,
Then travelled further than my reach.
You’ve made your mark, you’ve found your voice,
You’ve built your future by your own choice.
A father hopes his son will grow,
But what that means, I cannot know.
Until one day I turn and see
The man beside me, strong and free.
Not following footsteps left behind,
But making footprints of your own kind.
And though perhaps we share a name,
You’ve built your own and lit your flame.
So fifteen years have come and gone,
Yes, still together we carry on.
And every morning through that door,
I wonder what the day has in store.
For work is more than work to me,
It’s sharing life and watching thee.
A privilege I’ll always treasure,
A father’s pride beyond all measure.
And if they say, “He’s just like you,”
I’ll smile, because I know what’s true.
Perhaps there’s something of me there,
A turn of phrase, a look we share.
But son, you’ve grown to be your own,
With strength and purpose clearly shown.
And after all these years, I'm happy to say:
With you, it’s still like Christmas, every day.
It’s Like Christmas Day, Every Day is a heartfelt reflection on the unique bond between a father and son who have worked side by side for fifteen years.
The poem follows the father’s experience of watching his son grow from someone finding his place within the family business into a confident, capable man with his own ideas, strengths and direction. It celebrates the passing on of knowledge between generations, while also recognising that a son must ultimately create his own path. At its heart, the poem is about pride. It captures the joy of seeing a son embrace new technology, bring fresh thinking into the workplace, discover his own niche and become more than simply a reflection of his father. The repeated comparison with Christmas expresses the sense of anticipation the father still feels each working day. Even after fifteen years, there is something new to discover, something to admire and something to be grateful for.
It is ultimately a celebration of family, shared purpose, personal growth and the privilege of watching someone you love become their own person.
InspirationIt’s Like Christmas Day, Every Day was inspired by the warmth, pride and excitement I feel from working alongside my son for the past fifteen years. During that time, I have watched his confidence grow, seen him bring new ideas and technology into the business, and, most importantly, watched him find his own path.
People often say he is just like me, but what makes me proudest is knowing he has become very much his own man. The poem is a celebration of that journey, and I hope it resonates with other fathers who have had the privilege of working side by side with their sons.
And to the son who inspired these words — you know who you are.