Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Ode to the Speak-Easy Toastmasters club

I want to tell you this story,
So, you can tell it too.
A story for the ages
As I know it to be true.

                ***

Welcome to our meeting!
Write your details down -
Take a seat and tell us
Why you came around.  

Somebody suggested
That I dropped on by.
Now I've thought about it
I want to tell you why.

      I’m seeking my voice.
      I’m preparing a speech.
      It seemed the thing to do!

                ***

The meeting starts,
The roles are set,
Speeches are all shared.

We laugh a lot,
And applaud,
Commend and Recommend!

Assembling for each meeting,
We meet throughout the years.
The batons passed,
From peer to peer
And to those who are around.

Leaders take charge,
Upon Toastmasters’ paths,
To tops of Mountain peaks
From the valleys, far below.

                ***

Looking to the future,
And reflecting back.
A constant cycle turning -
Over forty years past.

“Speak-Easy” suggested,
By Herb in seventy-six.
A name ever reflecting,
Our club's nature and tone.

Always Mixed & friendly,
Supportive of us all,
On our many journeys
Towards reaching our goals.

                ***

The plans were formed,
From John's home:
Present they were there!

Young Herb and Hugh,
Russel and May
All seemed to have a view -
That women and men
Must have a place,
A home to express those views.

      Sharing their stories -
      Past and new
      And into the future too.

From where we began,
From seventy-seven on,
From these meetings came.

This idea that grew
Throughout the years, to come,
And into the future too!

This idea was born,
For this here club -
TO PASS THE BATON ON…

                ***

      ...The beginning...

                ***

   Penned and shared by Allison Brown,
        11 April 2017

                ***


Sunday, April 09, 2017

Start again...

Lift me up
Break me out
Of my routine
Make this day different
Find a way to see
Something, anything
With new eyes

Then, start again...

Posted first on Twitter.