Farewell Poem by John A'Hern

Regular visits to the land of my birth
Mother was failing
Decisions to be made.
Sometimes alert other times not,
Dementia taking its toll
Is it a plot?

Removed from the house she loved
Into a place that is not such.
Who are you on certain days?
Other times so bright so gay
Spending time, sometimes pray.

Living far away not helping matters,
A private home for last years
Matron helpful as Mam slipped away.
Messages sent come back to Wales
Given a minute be there post haste.

Arrived to find nothing organised
Brother and Sister waiting for a sign.
Arrange the flowers message intact
Saying just" Mam" and that is a fact.

Eulogy needed or a Priest
Confusion as to last requests,
Decided to go with Family suggestions.
Was Mam Catholic the main question?
Questions, answers thick and fast.

Visit to the chapel of rest
Mam lay there in her Sunday best,
First time seeing someone at rest.
Undertaker such a sad name
Showing compassion in all the explaining.

Family handling the occasion?
Heads nodded in unison.
Eldest writes a eulogy
Reading daily until he sheds no tears
Ready for the task before him.

Family gathers for the occasion
Some seen for the first time, now much older.
All in control until the hearse appears
Tears now shed for what it contains,
Two Sons called to follow the coffin
Borne aloft by unknown people.


Coffin Placed out front on show
Eulogy read, frequent emotional pauses,
Eldest Son recalling memories,
Mam would have trembled at the explaining
She was always a private person.

All well until the final farewell
Nothing prepares for this final wave
Turning to the coffin and saying goodbye Mam.
Family dispersed once again
Back to their own lives
Most Never seen or heard from again.