When I was twelve I had a shock, my mind was in such a whirl

My mother had a baby boy, when I secretly wanted a girl!

Sweet face surrounded by lush blonde curls and beguiling big dark eyes

One day I blinked and he stole my heart, quite took me by surprise.

Now bear in mind that this was just a perfect time for me

I swapped the toys and colouring books and perched this cherub on my knee!

I carted him round each chance I got, he really seemed quite happy

Mum even let me feed him too, but I never changed his nappy!

Now as he grew I realised he’d turned in to quite a dish

Despite the somewhat curious fact, he seemed half man half fish

And then as happens to some folk, he contracted itchy feet

So he went a wandering far and wide until a girl he did meet.

This union brought him ups and downs but also his greatest joys

He gained a lovely and clever girl and three handsome, intelligent boys

Bob’s world became his children and he thought that that was that

But what he made no allowance for was that one day he met Pat

I got a lot of phone calls then (communication wasn’t written)

And I perceived from the content that Bob was well and truly smitten!

Now Pat has special qualities and she set about weaving her spell

And Bob was hooked, with no escape, a condition we all know well

And so their love blossomed and grew strong despite life being truly tragic

Together they got through the horror it brought, which is why today’s all the more magic

So their families merged and grew to include two girls and another boy

Now with grandchildren too I’ve just lost count, my brain I will have to employ!

But what really counts is what’s happening now (and I think not a moment too soon)

Is we’re all here today to witness the love that has grown 'twixt this bride and her groom.