Enk Poem by Elizabeth Russell

You’ve seen so much of my boy
Been with him for so long
Wrapped yourself around him
When he was sad, or when he had a hurt
I couldn’t mend

I used you too – you healed us all at one time or another
If you couldn’t, then you comforted
He loved you before he ever knew
I was his mother
He’d had you for so long

He slept with you on his first day on earth
While I was still too tired to hold him
He was crushed when you started to show the
Weight of your years

When he found his friends were few
You were faithful
When I had done all I could and it still
Wasn’t enough, you held him close
While he slept

His tears and joy are etched into your fabric
His love and his fears are your thread
Whenever I touch you now
I remember how he used to carry you
Pressed close against his tiny chest

He showed us all just how much he could love
When he offered you up as solace when we were ill
We took you to humour him
Only realising later that we felt better
From the moment you had touched our hearts

Was it you or my son’s spirit within you?
Were we touched by his love and compassion?
I’ll never know
But you will always be a shrine to my boy
A sacred object in my eyes
More than just a blanket – his “ENK”