We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

15.9.18

The Farewell

The Farewell

















Afterwards I photographed roses
in my friend Maureen's garden,
drank black coffee on her deck, 
and showed her my new Tarot pack
(called Everyday Witch)
because it's light-hearted.

            *********

It was a kindly Memorial.
We were glad we went.
The cemetery was peaceful
with its lawns and trees
and flowers growing,
and the flowers people brought.
Maureen laid our bunch, gently, 
under a spreading tree
in the shade.

I hugged various old friends
I hadn't thought to see there.
Penelope's reach
into the community
was one-on-one with each of us.
None of us needed to say 
anything to each other – 
knowing the depth of love
in every connection with her:
impossible for anything less.

Death makes us all poets! Many
had written poems for her
after she died. They were read.
Several of us wept. Yet all of us had
certainty that she was now
with God, and happy.

When we toasted her,
we instinctively raised our glasses 
high, in celebration, to the sky.
There was no anguish,
even though we so loved her.
(There was some shock. Too young ...
and doesn't yet feel gone.)

We sang, we reminisced,
standing or sitting around
as the sun grew warmer
and the morning moved on.

A morning in early Spring,
in a glade. A good time, good place
for one who had given herself 
the email name of Artemis – 
who, wise and deep as she was,
kept the girl in herself alive.

And now she's dead? 
Twenty-odd years
and at least one other lifetime 
of friendship suddenly over? No. 
Never have I felt more assured
that the soul is eternal.

            *********

Knowing her life might not be long
she had written us all a letter,
trusted to a friend who was executor,
for when this time came:
telling us that our love
gave her power to see the light.
It goes both ways, Penelope –
you in whom we, fortunate, rejoice!















I took this photo back in 2001, but life didn't greatly alter her appearance. 

15 comments:

  1. A moving yet positive farewell ... thank you for sharing.

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  2. I can feel the force of her living through your words. And when I got to her smile, my hairs stood on ends--as if she say, "I will always be." That is the wonderful thing about love and friendship, they never die. They change, grow, ascend... but they never die.

    May her soul have the best of times at her chosen place, and by the side of those who will always keep her near.

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  3. What a beautiful tribute to your friend. Very moving poem. Throughout is an ambience of peace and love.May the eternal light shine upon her.

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  4. From the first line through this incredibly moving, strong poem I experienced chills and a sad sense of deja vu ... I have been there. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Such a beautiful farewell.. I like how you've written this, starting with the afterwards in that opening verse. Touching piece.

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  6. This is such a beautiful and heartfelt tribute, Rosemary.

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  7. Death makes us all poets!

    So true. Your tribute is very moving, Rosemary.

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  8. This is such a wonderful tribute — her personality and the bond you shared shine in your words. So heartfelt and moving.
    -HA

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  9. I love how you all managed to make the funeral to celebration not only of sorrow but also of remembrance... Sharing poetry must be the perfect thing to do.

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  10. The bit about the love going both ways - beautiful. Good friendships can't help but leave loving imprints in people's hearts.

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  11. What an absolutely beautiful way to celebrate this wonderful woman. I am certain that, somewhere near, she smiled on you all. Amazing that she intuitively knew to leave a letter in case her time was short. Wow. I love that she kept the girl inside her alive. It shows on her face. A wonderful poem, Rosemary. You took me there.

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  12. Such a heartwarming tribute.

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  13. Wow! This is a marvelous memorial. I bet it gave her great joy to see her friends gathered in her memory.

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