she makes me feel bitter

And someone suddenly goes, goes gravewards
Causing tears and smiles to turn downwards,
People unite and the past is then praised
Their memories of old ease the malaise.
And then she went to Heaven awaywards
But looking back at the tears afterwards,
At the Psalm I read and the sad smile raised
For the family, now it all seems so staged,
Though only her will revealed her real self:
An unkind woman hiding behind ill health.

Eighteen months ago my old grandma died,
I’m glad she expired undignified.
I should love her? It’s now too hard to try,
I can’t even like her and hate how I cried.


Eleanor Joslin.