I Still Have Not Yet Learnt How To Cope Without You Poem by Diana van den Berg

On this silent
heavy
greygreen
day
with a promise
of Autumn’s chilly bite,
my ravished heart
breathes yours
my darling Flicka horse
and
my darling Daisy dog.

I sit here on
Your Thinking Stone, Flicka
at your grave,
next to your tall, lush tree
and flowers gently dancing
in the brisk breeze
and I can see you both –
you, Flicka, a noble, beautiful bay
with your sun-rich golden coat
and black mane flying,
and you, Daisy, a fluffy little white Maltese poodle,
bouncing next to Flicka
who is cantering slowly
so that you can keep up with him
and I want to be there
with you both in Heaven.

Forgive my tears -
I know you will –
I forgot to bring tissues
so forgive the sniffs as well.
The day will come when
we will all be together.
It just seems so far away
and I am not coping
in the meantime
without you both.

(26 February 2010)