It’s a lonely world without you,
darling sister.
No longer your familiar kind voice
there to listen
when I worry about my boys
or my grandchildren,
or have problems with one man or another.
We always shared our worries,
had known one another’s children from birth.

A sister is a woman-friend
but closer still,
knowing and loving
our mother and father,
our brother.
Knowing the secrets,
joys and sadness
of childhood,
our sentimental love of Portugal,
of fado music,
the mistakes we have made
as life has unfolded.

Yet the love resides
beyond your death.
I miss you.
I know you were ready to leave
but
the world is a lonely place without you.

To Sarah, 22.1.42-24.10.23