There was that sound,

Like a silken web it surrounded me

In such golden beauty,

Pulling me deeper and deeper

Down into its glory and wonder.

I was lost in that sound’s world,

Into a place where satisfaction reigned,

Showing me that all was well

And my life was beautiful.

I would go on in peace and love

Even when that time came,

When I said farewell,

Farewell to Stromness.

I just do not what happened,

There I was preparing my dinner,

A glass of Rioja to help me,

Music playing as normal,

Listening to a favourite rock band.

When this tune started playing

The foot started tapping,

The legs went from side to side.

And there I was dancing,

Dancing around the kitchen.

This was just not me,

I had not danced for years,

But here I was moving to the tune.

Strictly, here I come!

Oh what a beautiful Morning,

I was there walking with My River

And there before me in this dawn light

Shone the full moon.

I walked towards it

Glorying in its beauty and wonder.

It shined on me leading me into my future

And I rose towards it,

Being pulled by this glorious sight.

One day I will reach it

And from there take off,

Take off into eternity with my lover.

We will tour the infinite Universe

With our love propelling us once more,

Into the glory of our life together.

We see those times in our lives
Where everything is so wonderful,
People love each other,
Going about their lives in happiness.
Where we have all before us,
And joy is all around.
All that is meaningful to us
Is within our lives,
And sorrow is never there.

Help to others is always given,
Nobody goes without
As there is enough for all.
The smiles in all our faces
Show the kindness towards each other
That will never be missing,
We know that we are there,
And have found Paradise.

We then awake,
And find that Paradise
Was paved with our dreams.

We hear them shouting,
Shouting loud and long.
They think they are right,
That they are so strong.

We struggle to hear them,
As their words we do seek.
But try as we might,
We believe they are weak.
We see both in our lives,
Both loud and quiet.
But we must not assume,
Not assume that loud is strong,
And that quiet is weak.

That time has arrived,
That time when my New Life is with me.
The change has happened,
On my own in the house,
Our home is now mine.
My wife, my loved one is no longer here,
Moved into a home
Where there care is supreme.
My care was starting to fail,
I was becoming beaten in my life,
Each day was getting harder
As her dementia controlled her,
Leaving me to do all for her.
It had to be done,
Now I am in the house alone.

My New Life is with me,
That life where I am back,
Back being able to be myself,
Doing the things I want to do.
Yes I will miss her being with me,
But I am used to that,
My lover has not been with me,
Not been with me for a long time.
Yes, I am alone in the house
But I am not lonely.
I have music to listen to,
Instruments to reacquaint myself with.
I have words to write,
Art to see,
Choirs to join.
At last I can see my friends,
Much ignored but now I am back.
I might be on my own
But able to do things,
Do things that I was unable to do.
My New Life is with me

Yes I love her,
That will never change,
And I will see her,
But her care comes first.
The care where she is
Is wonderful,
So much better than I could give.
In all the sadness of the past
New light has been given,
Given to us both,
That light will join and become one
As our lives travel into eternity.

I look around me,
Look at the faces of the people,
The people watching the performance,
They are all enraptured, enlightened.
The band is playing,
Their glorious sound engulfs them,
Engulfs me.
As they play
I am lifted into another world,
A world of beautiful music.
A feeling of wonder comes over me,
The hairs on my body rise,
Goosebumps come all over me
As the music permeates my soul.
I am lost in that glorious world
Where the brass shines through me
With the sound of their notes.
Again I look around,
I find the others too are in my world
As the brass band plays,
Plays through their souls,
Into ours.

There are many of them in this world,
You see them every day.
They seem fine,
Many smile and greet you,
But what we do not know
Is how they really are.
They return to their homes
And sit there alone.
The people in their lives have gone,
Maybe moved on to another world,
Or moved on to another place.
So these lonely people are just that,
Lonely.
If only they could realise,
Realise that others can be there for them,
Others who too may be alone,
But they too just sit at home,
Sit ensconced in their loneliness.
The world is full of lonely people,
Lonely people waiting,
Waiting for someone,
Someone to make the first move,
If you are alone,
Will you make that first move?

Life throws so many things at you,
We have no choice in what comes to us
But what we do have is a choice,
A choice of how to deal with it.
So deal with it in your own way
And move on to a better life,
As life is always the better way.