Prophesy « Ms Eclectica's Blog

I wrote this first draft of a poem nearly ten years ago, meaning to complete it at some point in the future. It lay forgotten as the future arrived and passed into history. My mother died five years ago.

 

So I looked into the future and you weren't there
Only Dad, sitting lonely in his chair
He's surrounded by the memories of your marriage
He's even left your car parked in the garage
He's hurting but there's no respite from pain
He knows you won't be back again

Home now to the children's clamour
Wishing I could bring them back their Nanna
"Where's Nanny? Tuesday Nanny! She be back later?"
"Sorry children, Nanny finished. No more Nanny."

I met a Demon and he was named Drink
He said: "I'll take your Mother and sooner than you think."

Your silent house, your empty chair
Just an old newspaper lying there
Your slippers left where they fell
The wine glass, abandoned as well
Faithful dog waits for his mum in vain
She'll not be coming back again
Silent screaming, inanimate keening
The whole house bleeding

Yes, I looked into the future and you weren't there
But nothing's set in stone and if you really care
You can change the future and make sure you ARE there.

The grandchildren all shocked and sorry
Did they never say they loved you -
Of course they do!

Why didn't you care enough to stop