I wrote this about our friend who we just found out had passed away.
Frances
When I was a foreigner in your land.
You treated us like family.
Now here I am feeling devastated.
Nearly in Tears.
For nearly Forty years.
You have been our friend.
Even though we lived in different parts.
You became part of our family’s heart.
Never losing contact.
Even when we came back here.
It always felt like you were near.
Every Christmas and Birthday.
Your cards would come.
Written by hand.
Never missing a beat.
Every year on repeat.
It was lovely it was sweet.
For four months now not a word.
Nothing at Christmas.
Nothing on birthday.
I thought maybe your cards had gone astray.
Or maybe you had gone away.
It now has come as a devastating shock.
You were no longer living on the same block.
When I typed your name into the internet
I found out you had gone.
You had left us four months ago.
With no one to let us know.
In a sad internet notice to the world.
From a lawyer it said.
You lived alone and had no known close family.
All those good friends.
Living near.
Who you treated like family dear.
Had already passed away.
All that remained close were your pets.
The cats the dogs the birds that you loved until your death.
Now needing a new home.
Lawyers arranged for you to be taken to a crematorium.
The funeral directors notice.
Short and sweet.
Name
Date of birth and death.
No family mention just a line saying you loved your pets.
We didn’t know you had gone too soon.
Thinking you were there.
We had sent you letter and cards.
In the old fashion way that appealed to you.
Something that not many people do today.
But specially for you we kept it that way.
With return address on the back just in case they couldn’t get through.
Nothing came back.
No return to sender.
In those words of Elvis that people knew.
It was only now we know.
In this hour.
Looking at your name on google.
We know that it was four months ago.
When you had to go.
It feels even sadder.
To have Mr and Mrs Google inform us of your death.
