And they Walked

There is no-one untouched.
"I don't know how many laps I can do?
But I'm walking for Carol."

Carol is on morphine now.
A few weeks ago she was among the sopranos,
In our community choir.

Penny and her sisters have raised so much.
Ignoring the signs,
Like a man,
Their dad succumbed after only a few short weeks.

As night falls,
The candles are silent sentinels.
Their scribbled messages,
Each tell a story of loss,
Or sometimes hope.

I walk for the collective loss.
Those of my friends.
Their sister, daughter, aunt.
His mate, a long way away.

I walk in gratitude of good health.

Relay for Life.

The Songwriter

I am learning his song.
Recorded in a hospice.
He was a songwriter.
Which really means,
He was a poet.
I could see him in his lyrics.
I could feel his pain, his optimism,
And the love he had for his wife.
I could feel his gratitude,
For the opportunity to reveal himself,
So publicly.
No truer portrait,
Than this self portrait.
Each time I tried to sing it...

The poignancy of the last line,
Caught in my throat. 

Fancy Dancer

"So what's up with him?"
Gossip,
But with genuine concern.
"The fancy dancer"
The main street of this small country town,
Isn't big enough for more news like this.
"Geez, not him too"
Cos she's got the asbestos one,
And this one's dad has the melanoma.
" It's not looking good."
Topic of conversation,
Too regular for comfort.
Stark this reality,
When everyone knows everyone's business.
So now our town's business?
Daffodil Day,
The Biggest Morning Tea,
And the town's inaugural,
Relay For Life.