FRASERBURGH-BORN George Bruce (1909 -2002) wrote various love poems to his wife in the course of a long life.

This is one of the most affecting of them and a reminder that emotion is not only for the young.

LOVE IN AGE

Now that we have had our day, you

having carried, borne children,

been responsible through the wearing years,

in this moment and the next

and still the next as our love

spreads to tomorrow's horizon,

we talk a little before silence.

Let the young make up their love songs,

about which subject they are securely ignorant.

Let them look into eyes that mirror

themselves. Let them groan and ululate

their desire into a microphone. Let them

shout their proclamations over the tannoy

- a whisper is enough for us.