Half Finished

Presents never sent

In the bottom of the wardrobe

Addressed envelopes for unwritten letters

Notes on the back of photographs

Few laughs. A feeling of dread

As the illness approaches

Someone you love tied to the railway track

And you are helpless

But why am I tied to the track, you ask

Shaken like the welcome mat

And all your memories

Scatter like the silver stars on my eighth birthday

Silver turns grey.
At night you worry – is the door locked?

Crossword puzzles become confusing, are left

Half finished, along with half-knitted hats

Sure everyone is old, but you don’t know why

You are in the home.

It’s not your home

And you cry. You don’t ask for much

You’re perplexed and puzzled.

Why have you been abandoned

By your family?

And we take you to the sea, to Sheerness

And it’s beautiful, you say, looking over the marsh

For you’ve forgotten about the oncoming train

And the grey rain turns to fog

Dad, he walked out, you think

When he died – your joy was gone

Your life was half finished

And now you must finish it alone