My First Picture Of You

In May 2005, your erstwhile parents

were sitting in the front row of your funeral,

and keen to hear my thoughts.

My eulogy for you, as I was your only friend.

 

Nothing was composed

but everything was peaceful and true to you,

as your hidden, tender self was seen by me.

  

Part of the eulogy: 

He was the love of my life

since I met him in my health food shop.

He was shy and somewhat eccentric.

My first picture of him

was a man in his mid thirties,

tall and very lean, in his pink jeans,

wild hair, and never gave his name.

 

It was Christmas week,

when he wanted a bunch of watercress,

to make a special meal for his family.

He had searched all the shops for this ingredient.

 

I said I know where to find it.

So I shut the shop door, 

went for a walk and showed him some,

growing in the flowing park creek.

He was so joyful, he jumped in to pick it,

in his good pink jeans and leather boots. 

Such fun!

 

And the synchronicity here 

was his father, who in all his years,

was never kind or emotionally present,

was suddenly in tears.

Realizing how hard his son

had tried to show his love.

And the watercress

was seen as a blessing, 20 years later.

And light graced that morning.

Sometimes the beginning, comes at the end.

  

And this is an odd way to say:

My walking a stranger to the local creek,

had a way of making a treasured memory.

 

Photo credit: Yes it is for real!

Australian Geographic Journal, May 29, 2024