For Barrie: Beyond the Fellgate

Photo by Barrie Haughton
Released from this life to the next on January 8th, 2008.
Set to rest and remembered on January 21, 2008, 1:15 pm at Lancaster crematorium.

Beyond the Fellgate,

over yellow Celandines,

your boy legs must be pumping,

arms reaching,

to a Cumbrian sky

the color of Hoegaarden.

Someone calls out

"Neaw Joe, where ar yo beawn so fast?"

but still you run on, smiling

because no one can catch you.

I wonder if you have forgotten

your curries, boiling pots of rice,

sounds of boxing on the television,

steadily clicking computer keys.

Your voice was the hand on my shoulder.

I'm missing you even though

I've never seen your stubbled face

or the way you might have

slowly smiled at some idiocy.

You signed off "Stay Happy"

as if it were a choice.

I know that it must be

now that you are gone.