The first frost of a new winter
The Skipton hotel
With a glass-case of jewellery, and pottery
Your black dress, with autumn flowers
My dark bespoke suit, and heavy overcoat
Don’t forget we had time
To sit in front of Ruth’s coal fire
Have friendly conversations
Shine shoes
With metallic shoe-polish
And prepare for the service
Don’t forget your spoken words
And your hand, touched
To the coffin; but first
The words spoken informally
By Grace; words of the treasured
Times they had shared
Don’t forget the meal
The stories of Bob’s adventures
With computer dating; remember
His story of getting lost
In the woods, with the psychologist
That he met on match.com
Don’t forget to try and create
An image of Ruth, and Rosie
Out, on their early morning
Walk, in the fields, with
Fiona’s dog, in the countryside
Around Thornton-in-Craven
Don’t forget how we kissed
Outside the toilets
In Meadowhall; you taking
Back shoes, and buying
A coat that I have not
Yet seen
Don’t forget I am
Writing this at three
O’clock in the morning
And that there is doubtless
Much, much more
That I have already forgotten
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