Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Hi everyone

Today is a bittersweet day for so many of us.
I'm going across country in a couple of hours with Steve so that my three children can make a fuss of me- I love them all so much- and you know as well as I do, that they don't have to do anything for me, they just have to be.

My mother had quite a sixth sense about things, and spent ages trying to 'prepare' me for what no child can ever be prepared. She wanted me to think about this poem- and I'm going to share it with you now.

Remember, by Christina Rossetti...

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts I once had,
Better by far you should forget and smile,
Than you should remember and be sad.

My love and thoughts are with you

Susan