She talks of family planning with spiders, gives advice to dogs on the subject of manners, compliments flowers on their beauty, discusses pesticides with bumblebees, speaks of romance with butterflies, lectures cats on their toilet habits, and mostly, she just tells off the wasps. Wasps are the Hells Angels of her garden. When hot, she undresses. When cold she wears layer upon layer. Rarely is she colour co-ordinated. She looks best naked. This one is of the earth. She has shown me many things from nature that being held a hostage of concrete and tarmac had denied me. She takes in waifs and strays. Gives a ray of hope to the unfortunate with kind words. When the mood takes her she may prey upon the weaknesses of pretentious humanity. In days of yore, in drink, she sometimes destroyed such beings. She is blessed with great cutting wit and cries giant crystal ball tears when laughing. She laughs a lot. She does not ride that savage downhill slalom of melancholy that is my want, although if left alone too long she climbs the walls of tedium. Her smile can illuminate a cathedral, her frown may slam shut its gothic doors and herald the crepuscular certainty of nightfall. A brave one, she has the small scars of childhood recklessness about her limbs. Accident prone, she bruises her body with regularity yet never her heart. To her there is no calamity in her clumsiness, the breakage of manmade objects matters not a jot. She says such things are replaceable anyway. Those mortals who cause the pain born of malice she would lock away forever. She calls small children and the very old, ‘My angel’. Infants would follow her to the ends of the earth. Sometimes she has the mouth of a navvy, other times the eloquence of a bard. She conceived our child in the Polynesian suite of a French chateau. As is her way, a certain ‘savoir-faire’. When giving birth she sweltered in the body heat of her own endeavour. Nearly a day in labour, and oblivious to the comings and goings of others, she insisted the midwife undress her. Enthrallingly naked, she bore her son. Natural instinct is second nature to those of the earth, those impish daughters of Eve. Fate wed us, eternity binds us. My Celtic lady is out of step with the rest. Captivatingly mad, yet with no comprehension that this is so. She has emboldened me, I think I am her rock.
Was it really 101 yonks ago I penned this piece for my lady, my Shirl? Likely it was. Whatever, I did post this on WP some 8 years ago. I decided for a galaxy of enduring, sugary reasons, now was a good time to retell her story. Without a word of a lie I feel that with Shirl forever at my side I’m the luckiest man alive.
Should my old book of poetry, where Shirl is featured on the front cover, take your fancy, along with the rest of my work can be purchased from AMAZON in PAPERBACK form or on regular KINDLE as well as for FREE on KINDLE UNLIMITED click on the picture below. Alternatively simply enter my name, ‘Mike Steeden’, on Amazon wherever you are. To access said poetry book, ‘Gentlemen Prefer a Pulse’, click on the picture below.
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Such a fine tribute, beautiful, the music too.
Cheers, Holly. That is a fantastic song, probably the best one he’s written.
I agree re the song. It’s beautiful .
I thought this might be a tribute to your wife!
You got it right, Liz. Thanks for the read. Regards, Mike
You’re welcome, Mike.
She sounds like a very special person. Since your tribute is from the long past, I would hope you would update the story of the woman you love.
If the truth be told she’s not changed a bit since the day we met…just a chunk older, although not as old as I am. I found her yesterday at the back of the garden chatting to a frog, such is her want. I’m the classical miserable old fool, she one of a kind. Thanks for the read, Mike
She sounds like a lot of fun, Mike. Talking to a frog. Just be wary if she talks with toads.
This is absolutely wonderful. What a pleasure to read, truly.
My thanks, Tara. Kind words appreciated. Regards, The Old Fool
Such a beautiful tribute to (clearly) the love of your life. Honest, open and heart-warming.
Cheers, Chris
Shirl’s yer girl, you lucky monkey!
Cheers. Good on you, Sir
I’m not jealous of course. Well… Hehehe!
Absolutely beautiful. So glad fate brought you two together. She is your muse.
My thanks, LuAnne. Oddly, following this post, she went and damaged her hip when playing with Rosie the puppy in the back garden. She must have more brusies than a boxer over the years! Never mind, all seems well. Regards, Mike
I can relate. I fell down the steps a couple of months ago and fractured 4 ribs. ouch! Almost three years ago I fell during a power walk and broke BOTH my wrists. I fall all the time. But I am moving around. Hope your sweetie is feeling better, and better bruises than broken bones!
Are you and Shirl twins? You’re certainly two of a kind. All the very best, Mike
You sound well-matched, and you gave her a wonderful tribute.
Best wishes, Pete.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford.
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How absolutely divine that two such as you have found each other. A lovely tribute, Mike. I’m sure Shirl knows she’s a lucky woman just as you know you are a lucky man. Congrats for finding the key to a long and luscious life. xox
My thanks, Pam. It seems the older we get the love lives on just as it did all those decades gone. Regards, Mike
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Lucky indeed! A very fine tribute. Cheers!
Cheers, Sir. Much appreciated.
Such a wonderful tribute Mike. So very beautiful.
Cheers, Sir. I sometimes think Shirl comes from another planet although she claims otherwise. Regards, The Old Fool
I recognized the photo, from Gentlemen prefer a pulse.
TOF, you are a hardcore romantic. I am too. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m enjoying the book. Like I say, I’m a turtle reader. Won’t pick up another book until this is finished.
My thanks, young Resa. Romantic we are, in all its many varieties. To this day I recall our first war of words. We were throwing vile insults at one another, each insult worse than the previous one, until I…and I can never recall exactly what I said…spat out something particularly disgusting that had Shirl in raptures to the extent she had to cross her legs, laughing so much. The war of words was over, there and then, and we’ve never looked back. We still fight, yet never do we suffer over it. Indeed, I think I might have to change TOF to MOS for ‘Miserable Old Sod’ seems to be her preferred current handle for me. Whatever, arguments can end up as a romantic battle. Regards, TOF aka MOS
PS – I so pleased you’re like the book.
I don’t know why but I feel as though there is a bit of every woman in her.
Loved it.
Very kind of you. I agree. Regards, Mike
Wasps are the Hells Angels of the garden…😆
Cheers, Sir