To Arlene Poem by Diana van den Berg

Arlene,
as you probably know,
. . . it was a strange thing. . .
today, I was thinking
beautiful thoughts
about you
up there in Heaven
and tonight,
of the very same day,
when I phoned Chrisjan,
Sandra called
“Hello Mom”
from the background.
I didn’t mishear her.
In fact, I didn’t hear her
at all
and Chrisjan asked me if I heard her
and I said I didn’t
and he repeated what she said,
and I said, “Hello daughter”.
I know you won’t mind her calling me that.
In fact, I know that you will understand
better than I do,
better than she does,
that it is
a tribute from her to you
and
a gift from you to me.

(22 November 2008)