These Were The Years

These were the years that were not the years
When I travelled round about
These were the years I stayed at home
The years I managed to breathe out.
These were the years that were not the years
For huddling together, travelling and eating out
These were not the years of train journeys,
Catching the Tube or walking steps, round and round.
These were the years that were not the years
We stayed behind closed doors
Fortunately, the sun was kind and the garden
became our home.
These were the years when true friendship shone,
Pints of milk, loaves of bread, some eggs.
Netflix movies on tap - ‘Have you seen this one?’
Keeping everyone connected on WhatsApp.
These were not the years to be precious about ourselves
But to reach out…

By Irene Hartshorn

You can hear Irene discuss the poem, before reading it out in the following video, which was produced as part of the Scottish Union Learning Highlands and Islands Learning Conference 2022.