Staying active

Living Room reader Ronnie Goodyer lives in Hanover Housing's Ross-On-Wye development. He took over a poetry magazine when its founder was too ill to carry on‚ and it has gone from strength to strength.

Ronnie encourages everyone to take up poetry‚ regardless of your age. He says:

"When health and slightly advancing years get the better of you‚ that is the time to press on with ambitions you've held for a while. More than half our poets are over 50‚ a great many of whom look back at 50 as a time long gone! So why not renew those creative instincts - it can become part of your life!"

If you want to get your creative juices flowing‚ browse through our poetry corner or have a look at Ronnie's poetry website for fun ideas and poetry competitions for the over 50s.

Here's one of Ronnie's poems‚ sent in just for us:

Arcadian

 

My father stood by the old gate

and lifted me to the top rail.

In silence‚ I followed his eyes.

In the corn‚ a tractor threw spirals of golden light

as specks of birds clamoured for a stray meal.

The windless wood braved the darkness of the wild

and distant houses dozed in the afternoon.

Hillside sheep grew together in a meadow-cloud

while a stray breeze seeded the summer air.

‘Be careful to pick the right dreams‚’ he told me‚

‘some have a habit of coming true.’

 

And now‚ in England’s ageless brushstroke‚

my son follows my eyes‚ in silence

 

 

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