UK Songwriting Contest 2010 - Results

'The Haiti Prayer' was a commended entry in the Lyrics category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2010!!!

The song was carefully examined by expert music industry judges and they have awarded Helen Burns this certificate for participating in the contest in 2010 and for contributing to it's continued success as one of the world's leading international songwriting events.

A contest spokesman said "The UK Songwriting Contest directors and judges include some of the world's top producers who have worked closely with such artists as Paul McCartney, Britney Spears and many others. There were over 5,000 entries this year and we are pleased that Helen Burns achieved a commended result in this year's event and wish Helen every success in the future as a songwriter".


First songwrting attempt/competition entry so extremely pleased!!!
Next year - aim higher!!!

Competition Winners - 'Best Buddies' Warehouse 2000, (Cat Deeley/Edith Bowmen)

Best Mates
It was fate
To make us Twins
Everlasting grins
Disco Divas
Dancing Queens
Shopaholics from early teens
Warehouse judges, can't you see?
We deserve this shopping spree!!

Competition entry - God Loves a Trier.....

Happy Birthday my-wardrobe,
You're Fabulous Four today!
I'd like to toast my-favourite site
And win this amazing give-away!

So my-friend, how would I spend
This delicious £400 prize?
My-wish list of dreams is bursting at the seems
Well....a girl can fantasize!

Myself I'd spoil with a Kirsty Doyle,
And support the lady from Liverpool,
A collection just to-die-for,
The epitome of avant-garde cool!

No high heels for me (I'm on crutches you see)
Sporting a not-so-fashion-savvy lump : (
So a Bloch Ballet Flat is where I'm at
Or a D&G nude satin pump!

A Kenneth Jay Lane could ease my pain,
Mmmm - THAT gorgeous Teardrop Ring,
A Manoush baby smock dress would really impress
It's butterfly necklace would add some bling!

A lush Lulu Guinness would not go a miss,
THE hot pink padded lip clutch,
A Missioni silk sarong would not look so wrong,
Brightening up my boring grey crutch!

So Happy Birthday once again,
Congratulations on reaching 4!
Cheers, here's to you
May your dreams come true
My-wardrobe for evermore x x x!!!

An Ode to our Lovely Mum!

This birthday wish is dedicated
To our Mum who's Super Sixty!
We'd like to take you back in time
To the year of 1950!!

Wednesday, **th March
A spring day; so bright but chilly
Ellen Marie graced the H**** family
…the arrival of 'Little Willie'!!

Baby sister to John, Gerard and Sheila,
Daughter to Emiline and John,
Those days hard to beat on Jubilee Street
The best girl in seven streets, bar none!

A quiet child, sensitive and mild,
A pupil at Sacred Heart, Hall Lane
At weekends she’d play, at ‘Paradise’ all day
With bezzies, Kathleen and Elaine!

One day at the Oller, poor Ellen did holler
When she fell on corrugated iron and rubble
Curiosity killed the cat while chasing a rat
And got her into BIG trouble!

Remember the time she went ape
When Gerard fed her a grape
Then confessed it was a sheep's eye
Oh what a-to-do! If only ‘ewe’ knew,
Gerard was telling a porkie pie!

It put her in good stead, that time before bed,
When Ellen gorged on Pontefract Cakes
Just her and big sis; and a MOUND of liquorice
Little girls with BIG belly aches!

A night out in the Victoriana, turned into a drama
After a dance and a drink
In the heat of the night, Ellen's dress felt tight,
…..her mini was starting to shrink!

A new place of work, did have its perks
When Ellen met her first love, so true
Dad turned on the charm,
As he stuck out his arm
And asked, "how about me and you?!!!"

Dad knew how to please
As the encounter at Plesseys
Was the start of Ellen and John
Soon they set the date, for St Timothy's church gate
**th August 1971!!!

A beautiful bride, (John swelled with pride)
As elegant as can be,
Fast forward a few years, now up to her ears
In a 'sea of pink'…...times 3!!

A happy abode on N***** Road
Karen, 4; and newborn twins,
Her work was cut out, without out a doubt,
With uniforms, bottles, nappy pins…..!!!

E-v-e-r-y morning at 8 - let's call this 'Hair-gate'
We'd queue up, 'I'm first!!! It's MEEEEE!!'
Until Mum flipped her lid with the squabbling kids
And snapped the Denman brush over her knee!!!

We soon understood, if we hadn’t been good,
(Although it was always tongue in cheek)
When once in a while Mum’s sparkling smile
Would turn into gritted teeth!

Mum made us beautiful clothes, adorned with bows,
And this I cannot lie,
Her homemade pud, never tasted so good,
Ellen's 'infamous' Apple Pie!

So what's the secret to your success, Mum,
Of your youthful and radiant air
Is it your 5-a-day from a 'Cabernet'?!
If its good genes, we hope you’ll share!

Joking apart, straight from the heart,
You're Mum, but best friend too,
A wonderful Nana to Eva and Greta,
Very much, we all love you x

So now you're turning 60
We don't think you'll ever look back
Just don't make a fuss while riding the bus
With odd boots; one brown, one black!

Thanks to our friends and family
Who are here to celebrate today
To join us toast our lovely Mum
Who is so special in every way!

So a BIG ‘Congratulations’
Let the celebrations start
Please raise your glass,
To a lady who’s world class
And forever young at heart!!!

Gordon Brown - Shove-Gate

Gordon Brown, finger and thumb,
See his fist; will it make you run?
“Get outta my way”
Is it horseplay?
Never a frown
With Gordon Brown.


Every time, just like the last
Allegations, no longer aghast
You’d never shove
Your aides you love
Never a frown with Gordon Brown


Gordon Brown, what a big mess
Bully-gate, is it all down to the press?
It’ll take more than You Tube,
To show the world you’re not rude,
Never a frown with Gordon Brown


Never a frown
With Gordon Brown
Never a frown
With Gordon Brown

Services

Special Occasions - When Might You Want a Bespoke Poem?

Wedding party speeches (Father of the Bride, Best Man)

Unique wedding place settings
Why not tell your own love story from first date to proposal? Guaranteed to make your guests both laugh and cry! Perfect keepsakes to treasure forever!

Marriage proposal
Looking for inspiration for a different and exciting marriage proposal? Why not surprise your spouse-to-be with a romantic/witty poem about your relationship. Could be written in a card or even recited to the love of your life!

Hen party
“And so Cinderella has now found her fella….”Give your hen the perfect send off!

Stag party

Valentines Day
“I love you more than pink champagne, I love you more than shoes….” Unusual Valentines gift for your loved one!

Birthdays – milestone, special, verses for surprise invitations etc

Graduation

Corporate affairs, retirement, colleagues leaving
Divorce parties - For Worse or Worser!!!

How to order your poem
If you would like a bespoke, personal poem, please email helen@forbetterorverse.co.uk for initial consultation, outlining who and what the poem is for. I will then contact you with a list of questions to ensure I have enough information to write the perfect poem for your occasion! There may be some questions irrelevant to your occasion, or some you may not wish to answer, so please leave blank if you would prefer.

A minimum of ten days notice required.

On receipt of your information, I will contact you to confirm your details and ensure your requirements are fully met.
A sample draft version of your poem will be sent for your review. Should further editing or amendments be required, I will carry these out to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Payment is required in full before your final version is received.


Pricing
100 pounds sterling (payable via the paypal link http://www.forbetterorverse.co.uk/). This includes initial consultation and on-going correspondence to ensure complete satisfaction. Optional requirements (email/framed/multiple copies to be discussed at consultation. NB Framed copy may require additonal P&P).

The Haiti Prayer

The Haiti Prayer

One Tuesday
Far from grace
An earth child brought pain and sorrow
To a place
Poor in wealth but not in values
Misery, ignored the plea
And struck at sixteen fifty-three
Let’s embrace
Our friends of today
And tomorrow


Mend the hearts
Of Port-au-Prince
Look deep into your soul
Give aid, persuade, convince
Our love we’ll measure
Give up our guilty pleasures
For you, we are there
Say the Haiti prayer…


World’s apart
But we share
In this parallel universe
An existence hard to contemplate
Or imagine
Dignified, strong and brave
Mass destruction to mass graves
Lives lost, survivors
Finding their strength, within


Mend the hearts
Of Port-au-Prince
Look deep into your soul
Give aid, persuade, convince
Our love we’ll measure
Give up our guilty pleasures
Forgive their debt
The hurt we can't forget.


Don’t rest until
There’s peace and calm and still
Let’s rue the day
The earth did kill…


Capricorn quake
Her ugly trait
Pessimistic, shakes and tremors
Shook our hearts
As we watched the terror unfold
Haiti hope, love, faith and joy
For the Haiti girls and boys
The saddest story
Ever to be told


Mend the hearts
Of Port-au-Prince
Look deep into your soul
Give aid, persuade, convince
Our love we’ll measure
Give up our guilty pleasures
For you, we are there
Say the Haiti prayer….

Mend the hearts
Of Port-au-Prince
Look deep into your soul
Give aid, persuade, convince
Our love we’ll measure
Give up your guilty pleasures
Forgive their debt
The hurt we can't forget.