For Mum (died March 4th, 1979)

DearMum:

I recall when I first saw you
As I slid off your lap
I must have been almost two
And it was time for nap;
I loved to hear you singing
A sweet old lulliby
As you dried my baby tears
Every time I cried.

I recall you cooking every day
As I sat on my red stool
You promised me that soon
I too could go to school;
But that year was the best of all
As I had you all to me
We'd hang our clothes on the line
Then I'd sit upon your knee.


Soon school arrived and I grew old
And I guess that you did too
I didn't hang around too long
Nothing much to do;
Summertime I came back home
And you were still the same
I rolled your hair & we played cards
Scrabble was our game.


It doesn't seem like thirty years
Since we told you goodbye
Every time I climb March Hill
I almost start to cry;
Your grave is just a quiet place
Where I still talk to you
And, Mum, each year's so long
I don't know what to do.

I recall when I last saw you
As you weakly said my name
I grew old at thirty-one
But I still felt the same;
I wish that we could all go back
To hot bricks and bannock bread
And make believe and pretend
My mum's asleep; not dead.

Love Heather