Rushden Research Group: Diana Werf Poem

Dinah van der Werf – Malmesbury, South Africa, 2002

Early Days

In the middle of ancient England, A dot on this crowded earth, An ordinary little town, Is Rushden, the place of my birth. In its heyday, those hard-working folk Made the very best boots and shoes. The smell of the leather, the hum of machines Are memories I never shall lose.
	Then came the days of ration books, The dreaded ‘black-out’ every night, Of broken homes and broken lives, As men went off to fight. Despite war and deprivation We were never short of love or fun, On this journey that we call life The adventure had just begun. Regardless of the hardships There was much we children could do. When out of school we’d play in the street Or run on an errand or two. On Sundays we went to listen to the band, Round a band-stand near a massive oak tree Set in the park of a lovely old house, A respite from reality.
After the conflict was over And Father returned to the fold, My parents sold our little house And we moved – I was 7 years old. Since then I’ve travelled to other shores And lived in other places, Heard many different languages, Seen many different faces. Like those who came before us And many who’ll come after, My life’s a mixture of good and bad, Of sadness and of laughter. We know not where this journey will lead, Nor when the end will be, But with Light, Love and Beauty in my life That’s more than enough for me.