I wrote this last June when my DiL ran the Pretty Mudder course on Blackheath to raise money for Cancer Research.
Gerry came up to cheer for her on what was the hottest day of last summer.
Gerry died in November.
FOR GERRY
The heath in June drank the burning sky
And stretched out, unslaked, scorched by gorse
On every side, bounded by grey ribbons of asphalt.
It bore the feet of women all touched by grief - and hope.
Defiant in pink, not worn for prettiness or fashion
But in sisterhood for those they love.
‘For Nan’, ‘For Ruth’, ‘For auntie dear’, ‘For my friend Jan’
‘For my sister’, ‘For my Mum’, ‘For granny’, ‘For my daughter’, ‘For cousin Ann’.
So many stories, so much pain, carried in their hearts and on their backs.
For this they braved the heat, the mud, the filthy water,
The lack of breath, the scrapes, the aches, the fear, the slides.
A pledge, a promise, a challenge, what else could they do?
To fight the shapeless sorrow and the dread of unknowing.
And those who watched and cheered and called
Encouragement for that hour long trial, were joined to them in gratitude and sorrow.
The gift of life for some, and extra years for others and
Remembering, dear ones gone too soon, and those whose lives were all too short,
And those where hope still fluttered faint.
And she, whose time is numbered now in months, not years
With each precious moment to be cherished and forever saved.
A wheelchair by the finish line, her grandsons and her family standing guard
Watching her daughter cross the tape and knowing how much she’s loved
And that Susan’s doing all she can.
She bravely smiles and cheers and buys ice cream for all her boys.
A memory made and stored forever
Their precious Nanny and brilliant mother.
Gerry came up to cheer for her on what was the hottest day of last summer.
Gerry died in November.
FOR GERRY
The heath in June drank the burning sky
And stretched out, unslaked, scorched by gorse
On every side, bounded by grey ribbons of asphalt.
It bore the feet of women all touched by grief - and hope.
Defiant in pink, not worn for prettiness or fashion
But in sisterhood for those they love.
‘For Nan’, ‘For Ruth’, ‘For auntie dear’, ‘For my friend Jan’
‘For my sister’, ‘For my Mum’, ‘For granny’, ‘For my daughter’, ‘For cousin Ann’.
So many stories, so much pain, carried in their hearts and on their backs.
For this they braved the heat, the mud, the filthy water,
The lack of breath, the scrapes, the aches, the fear, the slides.
A pledge, a promise, a challenge, what else could they do?
To fight the shapeless sorrow and the dread of unknowing.
And those who watched and cheered and called
Encouragement for that hour long trial, were joined to them in gratitude and sorrow.
The gift of life for some, and extra years for others and
Remembering, dear ones gone too soon, and those whose lives were all too short,
And those where hope still fluttered faint.
And she, whose time is numbered now in months, not years
With each precious moment to be cherished and forever saved.
A wheelchair by the finish line, her grandsons and her family standing guard
Watching her daughter cross the tape and knowing how much she’s loved
And that Susan’s doing all she can.
She bravely smiles and cheers and buys ice cream for all her boys.
A memory made and stored forever
Their precious Nanny and brilliant mother.
Comment