Do you remember?

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