Thursday, December 16, 2010

end of an era

Current work: revisions (if I can talk my work head into coming back)
Listening to: Christmassy music in car for the kids; more sombre chamber music for me
Reading: next on TBR

Dad’s funeral service was lovely. The reading was 1 Corinthians 13 – which was what he read at my wedding, so I had a bit of a lump in my throat (and I did crack a bit during ‘Abide With Me’ – it’s that bit about ‘death, where is thy sting?’). It was very poignant, attending my dad’s funeral in the church where my mother’s buried, in the same week of the year that she died. Not my favourite time of year.

But I hope I did him proud with the eulogy. It was nice to talk to his friends and colleagues afterwards, as well as family I hadn’t seen since my mum’s funeral, and share some of the good memories.

And I’ll leave you with the poem I read as part of it: 'Remember Me', by Christina Rossetti.

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann’d:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

12 comments:

Rachel Lyndhurst said...

Lovely poem, Kate. Take care.

Rach.
XX

Caroline said...

Lovely poem Kate - take care - Caroline xx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful flowers, lovely poem. So glad things went well.

Take care.

Chris.

Unknown said...

How strange, we had exactly the same poem. It is beautiful. Take care now.

Nell Dixon said...

Hugs

Jan Jones said...

(((((hugs))))) Look after yourself, hon. You are important, you know.

Lacey Devlin said...

(HUGS) Kate. It's a lovely poem and the flowers are beautiful. Look after yourself xx

Nicolette said...

That star wreath was beautiful and the poem is perfect.

Lots of love and best wishes.

Unknown said...

Those flowers are simply beautiful. The Rossetti is perfect - always makes me cry.

Take good care of yourself. Hugs. xx

Katie said...

Glad it went well. I love that poem.

Liz Fielding said...

Just love that poem, (((Kate))). Tearing up here.

Kate Hardy said...

Thank you, all. And hugs back at you.