Also I wrote a poem back in December. I hope it’s ok to share it here. — He visited in June.  I didn’t want him to leave.  For the first time in my adult life, I asked him to stay, Peculiarly panicked at the prospect of his departure.  He left his jumper behind. Some would say it was a sign That he wanted to stay.   I held it close every day in July, Soaking up his smell in his absence.  August and September passed.  I visited him and returned his jumper. We talked, we laughed, we planned, When to see him again?  What date, exactly? He left this world in October.  Leaping off this mortal coil, Flying feet first into great unknown, Across the fold. No longer to be found at his usual abode.  November’s days were all too long But passed in the blink of an eye.  Full of mud and dust, bits and bobs,  Paper clips and old birthday cards. Arms aching from moving wardrobes and coffins.  His jumper sits on my chair.  All of December, his smell has been fading, His flesh returning To the earth which made him.  How can you ask a smell to stay?

Posted by Freya Jarman at 2022-07-15 18:14:23 UTC