They have now gone from us,
Those all-protecting ones,
The angels by the bed,
The guardians at the gate.
This is Life’s promotion!
Step by reluctant step
We move forward daily
To take their place.
At the close of a summer’s day,
Far, far down the beach
At the ebb-tide’s turning,
To sand, sea and wind
We committed them,
Ashes to ashes,
Human dust to dust,
Memories to sand.
The rain has stopped, the sun’s in the sky
And we wait by the gate to see Daddy go by.
He’s off to the fields to sow winter wheat
And maybe he’ll take us along for a treat.
So we’re booted and spurred, with hopes running high,
As we wait by the gate to see Daddy go by.
December 2000
Please put my hair in bunches
With ribbons red and blue,
I’m going to a party
Which starts at half past two.
It’s my friend Anna’s birthday,
She’s nine years old today;
I’ll wrap her present nicely
And then be on my way.
I had a letter from her
Which said, “Please come to tea.“
We’ll play Let’s pass the parcel,
The winner may be me!
So tie my hair in bunches
With ribbons red and blue,
I’m off to Anna’s party
Which starts at half past two.
For Lucy, July 1980.
I have a homing instinct for the stars 
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