Life's Embrace

Margaret was born in 1922, the youngest of four. Her eldest brother was a fighter pilot; he was killed during the Second World War at the age of 25. Her sister emigrated to Rhodesia, as it was called then, and her other brother to Canada. She wanted to train as a nurse, however, her parents had other ideas and felt it her duty to stay at home and look after them as they grew older. She therefore trained as a shorthand typist and worked within the civil service for many years. She married and had one daughter, Robina, later in life; Robina has always been her pride and joy. Looking after her daughter and being a carer to her aged mother were her prime role for many years. Reading was always her favourite pastime. In her younger days she attended creative writing classes, writing poetry and short stories. She also helped adults, less fortunate than herself, learn to read and write. The poems in this book are written from the heart, with passion and much feeling, they reflect many of the key moments in her life and her love of nature. Many of the poems are illustrated with photographical images taken by Margaret's daughter, Robina.