Return

You came to me in a dream the
other night.  We were so happy to see
you again.  So content. You had
been travelling, as always.  Found,
where you had been lost.


You were happy; slightly bewildered,
overwhelmed perhaps.  I was joyous,
quietly joyous.  Full.  Satisfied. Whole
once more.


I knew you were not here permanently,
but here for a reason.  We didn't mention
any of that, of course. We side-stepped it discreetly.
We were all so content.


Did you speak?  I don't think so.
Like an animated mannequin,
perhaps.  But a wonderful stand-in.
A beautiful presence.


I think I touched you.  I know I would
have wanted to.  But I can't recall an
embrace.  Why wouldn't I have taken
that opportunity?  Your presence was
enough, I think.  Your energy.


In the morning I didn't think of you
initially, but know you had been.
It came back to me slowly.  Dawning
on me, like the clouds clearing in the
morning sun.


It pleased me to knew you were not
lost; that you were around after all.  You
had not let me go, but were
in me; with me always.


Just like you had been all those other years.


Thank you, sister.


October 2014

A memory

That afternoon we sat side by side
in the park,
amongst the trees and English drizzle
that fell in sheets before us.


Holding hands and with few words,
we let the silence pass by,
and to ourselves thought what time had done to us.


Slowly, your presence
began to heal the graze
that time had endured.
And I felt full again.


November 2001