Ode to a Friend (my mom)
This poem was sent to my family immediately after my mom’s death. It was written by one of her bridge buddies, Florence Pope, and printed here with her permission.
My apologies to Florence for taking so long to post this poem, which captures the essence of my mother beautifully. I suppose I was trying to fit it into one of my postings, but now I realize it is better standing on its own.
Thank you to my mother’s friends, for appreciating and accepting her for who she was.
ODE TO A FRIEND
SHE LEFT THE GROUP
OUR FRIEND
WE WEREN’T PREPARED
FOR HER QUICK DEPARTURE
BUT SHE WAS READY
NO LINGERING FOR HER
WE LOVED HER
SHE KNEW US WELL . . . WE KNEW HER LITTLE
SHE SHEPHERDED US THROUGH THE GAME OF BRIDGE
WITH SOFT COMMANDS . . .”ON THE BOARD,” “YOU DEAL,”
“YOU’RE THE DUMMY” . . .
SHE WAS QUITE PRIVATE
OUR FRIEND
NEVER DERW ATTENTION TO
HER PERSON
ON THE WAY TO BRIDGE ONE WEEK
HER CAR WAS TOTALLED
BY A SUDDEN LEAP IN THE DARK BY A DEER
WE DIDN’T KNOW
SHE MENTIONED IT THE NEXT WEEK WE MET
THEN PLAYED HER CARDS
SHE STAYED ON COURSE
LIVING AND LOVING AND KNOWING LIFE
AND ALL ITS VISCISSITUDES
SHE LEFT THE GROUP
OUR FRIEND
WE WEREN’T PREPARED FOR HER QUICK DEPARTURE
WE SHALL MISS HER IMMENSELY!
