u3a

Doncaster

February meeting: 2026

We had apologies from Irene, Vicky and Nora

I read All This Clobber by Matt Black

Jane read I Want To Be A Yorkshireman by Chris Burdon

Chris read The Miracle by John Drinkwater

Ralp read Each Moment Is Precious by Patricia A Fleming

Carol read Schoolboys in Winter by John Clare

Catherine read The Dream by Aphra Behn

Sue L read her own poem, Wistful

Dave read FOP (But Not Ready To Drop) by Henry Normal

Lynn. read Philomena's Revenge by Rita Ann Higgins

Sue J read Ducks Don't Shop In Sainsburys by Gary Boswell

Nancy read The Rainy Day by Longfellow

We then took on Catherine's idea of a few of us reading a second poem but not racing round the group, allowing us all time to discus and talk about the poems we heard.

Jane read I've A Little Sat Nav by Pam Ayers

Chris read The Lake Isle Of Innisfree by WB Yeats

Ralph read The Bachelor's Soliloquy by Edgar Albert Guest

Carol read Remembering Snow by Brian Patten

Thank you all, as ever, for another wonderful group meeting. There were songs, laughter, serious discussion and once again, a richness of poetry with new discoveries and old (and always welcome) favourites.

Sue Levan shared her own poem which was intended mainly for the Writing Group but Sue gave her permission for me to post it here.

Wistful

For the days when the sun rose early

And started a chain of events

And thing followed thing and then more things

Which signified more than they meant,

I sing in a voice that is silent

And those who come closer to hear

Will not, for they are not in my mind

So nothing I sing will be clear.

I see things in flickers of sunlight

On petals that move in the breeze,

I hear them in whispers unspoken

As a leaf falls from one of the trees.

I sing in a voice that's internal

That cannot be heard from without,

Of things that once were but now are not

Like a dream, or a shadow of doubt.

I sing of an unspoken promise

As binding as one made in blood

Which never broke, but was forgotten,

Just discarded or misunderstood.

I sing of the sweet and the silent,

The things that creep into your mind

When they're gone but they are not forgotten,

Leaving sad-sweet memories behind.

Sue Lavan

I'm sure we all agree just what a lovely and accomplished poem this is. Thankyou Sue.