Waiting Room Shenanigans

The tiny blonde one

goes straight to the toy bin.

His brown-haired brother

has brought a Matchbox car from home

and says, 'Vroom vroom vroom'

as he rolls it across the table.

Then the little one comes to me.

He holds his arm up to my face

to show me the red stamp

on the back of his wrist.

His brother presents an arm too.

His stamp is grey. My cry of delight

is not so loud as I gave the younger.

So then he swirls the other wrist

revealing a coloured sticker, so bright

and sudden that I shout — and now he's glad.

White Hawk Flies

White hawk flies over the road.

Big flaps of strong slow wings.

When it rose from the trees

at first I thought ibis, then

I saw how round the head,

how curved the beak.

It skims low over the forest

head-down purposeful

heading away from the sea

towards the Border Ranges.

Angel

A sky of angel clouds:

wings and several faces.

None of the faces 

is yours, but I'm reminded

that those who can see 

always recognised you 

as an embodied angel ...

gone now, to join your own.

Completion

My beautiful man passed away today about 3.40 in the afternoon. The nursing home phoned me just after breakfast so I went straight there and our dear friend Maureen joined me there, and we sat with him all day. The nursing home fed us, and we reminisced about him and his life, and talked to him too, and held his hands, knowing he could feel and hear us although he was unable to respond. He was very peaceful and comfortable all day, and went quickly and easily. He did wonderful things in his life, and was a treasured friend and mentor to many. I have been very blessed to have 20 years with this incredibly loving man.

First Day of Spring

I march out into the street, late afternoon,
the sun still bright, the air balmy.
New leaves are sprouting on all the trees.
A neighbour's bamboo hedge stands tall and thick.