border ballad 3

Eulogies exist.

Eulogies, funeral notices and obituaries exist.

There are radio phone-in dedications and tissues passed round and cold sausage rolls.

Black tights and dates exist.

Letting everyone know happens. Holding on til Christmas happens. Going together happens.

And letting go. Letting go happens.

Good innings take place. Good innings and too soons and at least she’s out of pain occur.

And tea urns exist. Tea urns and weak coffee and strong whiskey exist.

There are sandwiches and photographs and curtains drawn.

Laying out occurs. Laying out and breaking down and feeling nothing occurs.

And best clothes.

Best clothes, prayer cards, and mortuary makeup exist.

Casket pillows exist.

Dresses you’ll only wear once exist and names spelled in lurid pink flowers exist.

And turning cold exists. Turning cold exists.

And sorrow.

And tenderness.

There is sorrow and there is tenderness and there is love.

Sorrow exists.

Sorrow exists.

And love exists.

There is sorrow, and love, and you.

You exist.

You exist.

You exist.

You are here.