Farewell

Shortly after Ma died my cousin's wife died in Ireland.  I was about to ring her to say that would be with her within the week, when the phone rang with the news.  She had died in the night.  I wrote the following poem for the Month's Mind.  For those of you who don't know what that is, a month after the funeral everyone gets together again for reflection.

When we heard the breath-catching news,

Family, friends and neighbours sped

To show how sad we were to lose

Mary, with goodbyes left unsaid.

We shared so much that August week,

Aware of our fragile morrow.

Memories, laughter, tears and grief,

United by sudden sorrow.

Friends, priests and neighbours rallied 'round

With precious gifts of time and food,

Sensitive to the smallest sound

Of need and ev'ry change of mood.

In her own front room Mary lay

Surrounded by those who loved her.

They had stayed with her all the day,

Sharing memories, tears, laughter.

In evening's lingering light

A small crowd gathered, hushed until

A murmuring of prayer took flight

Soaring skyward on air so still.

While we thought and prayed far below

The organ played what our hearts felt.

'Neath Cobh's beauteous rose window

A single voice soared as we knelt,

A voice that held us fast in thrall,

Ave Maria reaching deep

Into the hearts and souls of all.

In glorious sunshine we strolled

Slowly to Mary's resting-place.

We talked and let old tales unfold

Of kindness, laughter, love and grace.

So we said our Farewells and left

The flower brightened cemet'ry

Feeling uplifted, not bereft,

We took Mary home in our hearts.