Ode To Peggy. Poem by Geoffrey Fafard

A few years ago now
A beautifully spirited lady
A neighbour of mine
Died at her front door
In my arms
She was of Cornish extraction
And spoke like a pirate
She fed all the native little birds
And fish in the lake
Caring and tending to all creatures
That she enveloped
And when she would see me
Packing up to go bush as I did
Over she'd come
Bearing steaming hot pasties
And golden apple pies
Her husband was a cripple
And she nursed him through
Stuff too dark to mention
I would sit up in the wilds
Of Cape York and eat her treasures
I would toast her with a whiskey or two
And a smile or four

That last night she died
As I got there after the phone call
And as she gently fell against me
I Lowered her into her seat
I sat there quietly trembling
"Wasn't she a fine woman in life"
Her husband stated
I sat looking straight into her face
"Yep" I mumbled "and
A fine woman in death"