Mum, do you remember that pink alpine? The one you gave me years ago What alpine dear?
It’s OK Mum, it’s still alive I found a root clinging on to life The one with tiny pink flowers Do you remember? It made a healthy clump in our last garden I dug it up and moved it with us Whenever I saw it I thought of you
It’s OK mum, you’ll be fine Parkinson’s, he said, remember? You shuffle with uneasy steps You hold your own hand to stop it trembling The hands on the clock no longer tell you the time
I’d forgotten about that pink alpine I planted it amidst the shrubs and neglected it The shrubs grew strong and smothered it But just the other day, while pruning back, I spotted it A bare little root and a few leaves I moved it to a sunny spot and now it’s grown some flowers again Whenever I see it I think of you
Is it OK mum? Are you settled where you want to be, so far away? Your sheltered flat, nice ladies, daily lunches, shared jig saw puzzles No need to walk far
Its thriving now I’ll keep an eye on it and keep it safe Whenever I see it I think of you