Valerie is a wife 

Married for 60 years 

Wedded for eternity 

Time to cherish. 

Valerie is an apple 

Round, wholesome and sweet 

With a cross at her heart. 

Granddad hasn’t said goodbye, 

He’s shining brightly in the sky. 

He is the sun which warms my face, 

Opening his arms to keep me safe. 

All posies are edged with sweet “love-in-the-mist”, 

Which bees pollenated the day you first kissed – 

But you’re going to need strong, perennial flowers 

Which don’t crumple in sunshine, or shed petals in showers. 

A small round candle to give a circle of light  
When storms darken the house.  
   
A soft white blind  
To let in the sun when clouds fill the room.  

Strands of sunlight are melting the mist. 

A poppy slowly uncurls its petals, 

And somewhere a bird is singing. 

In essence, the world keeps on turning; 
The only life ended is yours. 
We all keep on breathing and walking; 
But your departure has given me pause 
  
To study the beauty around me 
And wonder if you saw it too. 
Or if it was muted and hollow: 
You seeing grey where we see blue. 

Her mum and dad fondly remember 

Baby Beana, the small sleepyhead. 

Four decades have passed, 

But she’s still always last 

To arise grumbling from her bed. 

She donned Get In Shape Girl’s legwarmers, 

And the headband, to improve her health. 

Such effort was so draining 

That she sat down complaining, 

“Dressing’s a workout in itself”. 

Stay a while in the garden.

Let the book fall from your lap. 

Hear the flowers fold their petals. 

There’s rosemary, for remembrance. 

Your mother’s shawl around your tiny frame 

Will protect you from the chill.