FOR JOHN

FOR JOHN, on his finding for me, on my birthday, a volume of Yeats’ poetry which I had wanted so much, and his writing in the front the first verse of a much-loved poem, “When you are old and grey and full of sleep, take down this book …” I adapted the last verse. 1998

Love has not fled, or
Hid his face amid a crowd of stars,
But rather stayed and grown
Throughout the passing years
Into a blessing we each can own,
Through times of joy and sometimes tears.
And now love wraps and binds us closer still,
So stay with me and be my love and
Walk together all the days ahead
As when we vowed some fifty years ago.

JEB

For more information on these poems, contact edmund@balnaves.org