Before I was born, there was nothing for me
I was not even listed in my family tree.
I was not yet a twinkle in my father’s eye,
Nor was the wind that blew in the sky.

My day of creation, cannot be confirmed
From one cell to the next, into flesh I was turned.
In my mothers whom, no memories I kept,
Snug and so warm, I must have just slept.

But when I was born, the world it did see
A new life created and that life was me.
With love I was smothered, a love that endured,
Even after the midwife, she cut the cord.

When I was a baby, too young to see
How wonderful was life and how it good it could be.
My mother’s milk I did drink, so eager with zest,
To help me grow strong and make me the best.

As a small child, my memories are dim,
I remember a swing that I used to sit in,
My daddy would push me, I’d giggle and laugh.
And each night ‘fore my bed, he would give me my bath.

Then when I was a boy, all those years ago
I was in love with my life as my body did grow.
I would fill up my days with play and delight
Then sleep very sound, throughout the night.

Then to school I did go, so eager and keen
I met other children that I’d never seen.
At first I did love it, I couldn’t wait to return
There were so many things I needed to learn.

But I then met Mr. Byron, who killed off my joy
He would cane me for nothing, even though I was only a boy
He was the headmaster, my fate in his lap
But my youthful exuberance, he soon did sap.

I then hated my school days, to my detriment
Aged fourteen I left school, left school permanent.
In an office I worked, I did do my best
But there where no skills there, in which I could invest.

At sixteen I started my, apprenticeship
A welder of metal a builder of ship
For three years my life was all work and no play
But I really enjoyed it, and for work I got pay.

Then as a young man, the girls I got to know
My love for my life; really did grow.
Some were for love, some were just fun
But some were just wanting, from them I did run.

My guitar in my hand, many songs I would sing,
Thanks to the ‘Beatles’ and Elvis the King
The girls would flock ‘round me, and swoon at my feet
When I sang songs of the 60’s from the Mersey-beat.

But I became disillusioned, with the life I was living
So to the army I went; a new life I was seeking.
In the Guards I enlisted, my duty to do,
New friends I would die for, friends from Cymru. (Wales)

The world I did see, new lands I explored
How far I had travelled, since the cut of my cord.
I then fought in ‘The Troubles’ see the poem I wrote.
Even now just to read it, brings a lump my throat.

But by now I had met the girl of my dreams,
My sweetheart, my angle, the queen of all queens,
To have her and hold her it was love at first sight
I needed to be with her, by day and by night.

We engaged in our love, the promise we made
To be with each other forever, or at least to our grave.
She was only but twenty when the knot we did tie
We promised to be faithful, until we both die.

I’ve kept that promise; and she’s done the same,
And our love it was bonded when our children came.
Happy years they have been, together in love.
A gift given too us, from heaven above.

The army behind me, my nightmares at end
But at a cost hard to cope with, the loss of a friend.
My thoughts are still with him since that dreadful day
Philip John Price was his name, for his soul we must pray.

Even as I write this, a tear it does fall,
For all that he did, was answer his county’s call.
Peace be with you ‘Punchy,’ my friend and my mate,
Be waiting there for me when I reach Heavens gate.

But enough of this drooling, I’ve a story to tell
It’s not just about a friend, a comrade who fell.
For this is my life, with stories yet to be told,
Some of which are still secret, if I might sound so bold.

Then in the Police, I did serve my land and my Queen
But I couldn’t begin to tell you of the horrors I’ve seen.
Murderers and rapists, muggers and thieves,
Some of which we should throw away all the keys.

For the next thirty years, I did earn my pay
Seeing death and destruction around me each day,
Sometimes there was not even a ‘thank you’ when I saved someone from grief
As I faithfully plodded along on my beat.

Then, what did I get at the end of my days?
No medal for bravery to take to my grave.
But I did my duty, most faithful and kind
I was good as a policeman I think you will find.

Then as my days as a cop they did end
The cancer it got me, to the grave, me it will send.
But I’m going to fight it, a fight I must win
For I’ve been good all my life, I’ve committed no sin.

My children have grown now, with kids of their own
They come see us regularly, as this is their home.
Their husband and wives are best friends to us both
Our grandchildren we love and they fill us with hope.

A new generation, to the world has been born
I’ve no regrets, just some sorrow and forlorn
But most of my life has been fun to the extreme
And the people who know me, well! They know I have been.

Now I can depart, from this here my life
I want to go first, but not leave my wife
For I want to be with her, a few more years as yet
For I love her as ever, as on the day that we met.

So take me to heaven, but do I want to go?
Not yet anyway, so the answer is no!
There’s more life to be lived, and more things I must see
Before there’s a meeting between my maker and me.

So thanks for your ears, my life story’s thus told
And I hope it is said, when I’m dead and gone cold.
“He was a good man, that man in that grave,
He was kind, he was generous but most of all he was brave.”