My Gnome Tome

I’m not in the habit of publishing personal messages and creative writings here, but today I want to make an exception.

I’ve had a very emotional week brought about by the unexpected discovery that someone on whom I had a massive crush throughout my teens, but who sadly passed away over a decade ago, was at the same time apparently into me, but I didn’t know it.

Whilst I wouldn’t change the choices I made in life which led me to my wife’s side, as we’ve been very happily married for 13 years today (happy anniversary my love!), this discovery has opened a flood-gate on my memories of Naomi, taking me right back to that exciting, tormenting, wonderful period of my life – my teens!

I have now undertaken to create a memorial website for Naomi Shaw, in collaboration with her mum, a close family friend, featuring her incredible music, stories of her life, and the personal reflections of her friends. As Naomi was affectionately known as ‘Gnome’, these reflections will be called ‘Gnome Tomes’.

I wrote the following lyrics today, as my ‘Gnome Tome’.

It wasn’t unrequited

Your laugh was captivating
So filled with mirthful joy.
I wished to say I love you
But I was just a boy.

Your smile was mesmerising
Full of mischief in your eyes.
Now when I think about you
I want to laugh and cry.

You were my major crush
And I, I wanted you so much.
I didn’t think you saw me
Or that you even cared
And now I cannot tell you –
Why couldn’t you be spared?

Your smile’s been taken from us
You’re gone but not forgotten
You’ll never be forgotten…

Thinking back I love how
Our conversations were a game
Of inte-llectual sparing
And now I know you felt the same!

Everyone around us
Knew you were into me
That you wished to take it further
That is everyone but me!

You were my major crush
I wanted you so much.
I didn’t think you saw me
Or that you even cared!
And now I cannot tell you
Why couldn’t you be spared?

I wish I could have told you
That my feelings were the same.
It may well have changed nothing
But damn I felt the same!

It wasn’t unrequited
That which you felt inside.
I wish I could have told you
What I thought that I should hide.

You’re gone but not forgotten
You’ll never be forgotten
It wasn’t unrequited
You’ll never be forgotten
You’ll never be forgotten.

For Naomi.