Dear God

My mum was taken poorly shortly after I broke my hand and arm - there's another poem about that. However, it did mean that I had to go to the hospital a number of times and wait for appointments - this gave me a lot of time to think... and pray.

Has the time really come? For you to take my mum I can’t help but fear Missing this one I hold dear

But I know we are only mortal As we approach the heavenly portal Mum has had a long life Sixty-one years as a wife

Many times have been hard But you have been her guard Born in 1932 In Princes Risborough she grew

Soon came the time of war Who knows what she saw She went to Wycombe High And, much later, so did I

To be a teacher was her dream However, it did not seem That this was your will So this role she didn’t fulfil

Instead she went to cook for boys at Eton But found she was no Mrs Beeton Then she changed her trade And became a house parlourmaid

Caring for the young elite Must have been quite a feat She also worked as an au pair With two young children in her care

Back in Risborough lived Fred And in due course they wed Shortly after they did go Off to live in Great Marlow

Where he had got a job To earn an honest bob His muscles became quite big As many a grave he did dig

Working in Marlow Town Cemetery With their home close by, very Then came their first child, Joy And not long after, a boy

Joy needed extra care And had a special chair Although she was bright Her spine was not right

And before the age of seven She joined you in heaven Thus Mark was left alone An only child in their home

But when he reached age ten Guess what happened then? He again became a brother As mum had another…

Daughter, which was me! When she was over forty She enjoyed being a mum Family life for her was fun

Her faith was absolutely vital She learnt scripture, recital Believed in the power of prayer Even if life wasn’t fair

Mum delighted to sing Pleasure to her it did bring She sang alto but no higher In the church gospel choir

Mum cherished family life Did her best as a wife Cared for her children She was like a mother hen

When I was at school What was really cool Mum came to be there For children she did care

Although mum didn’t bake She definitely liked her cake But what she thought most nice Surely it was coconut ice!

Life seemed to go by fast I could recount more of her past Trips, events and holidays Friends, family and birthdays

Her years passed with grace But age showed on her face Many years took their toll On her body as a whole

At times we would find She had a troubled mind But now mum has found release From troubles, she’s at peace

Sad, for us, the time has come To say goodbye to my mum You have taken her away Forever, with You, she’ll stay