Brown Pebbles among Green Stones

Today

I placed your pebbles

down among the green stones.
 And a penny.

A place where shadows

recognise me.
And sadness lingers.
From those times
when, just a girl,

you stood here too.

I didn't get to say goodbye,

not properly.
Distance made it impossible.
And now I have my chance
To stand here
Close my eyes
And think of you.

Among the sadness
are happy memories,
just like those brown pebbles.
A party, many years ago, where you
danced and laughed.
The times when you sat us down
at your round table
and served tea.
I always liked your Englishness.

The letters you would write to me.

The kindness.

I hope you are pleased to

come back.
It was home, once...
a time long ago.

Before a long journey,

another home,

another generation.

And I think you would have smiled,
as two cousins

shared a meal, a bottle of wine

and reminisced.
For despite the distance
and the years,
your legacy lives on
reminding us that we are
after all...
family.

(for Aunty Pat, 21st October 2017)