We have said goodbye to a friend today, a Humanist and a Socialist. We each took a red rose to put on his coffin and it was very beautiful . We listened to John Lennon’s Imagine and to an anti-fascist song, one which I sing with my choir, Bella Ciao, amongst the memories and life stories and it was all very moving.

Our white garden is very pleasing. White Cosmos in one border and the Lupins in another.

White Cosmos

White Lupin Spires, just standing there

I love the poetry of Seamus Heaney and this one is another delight.

Lupins – Seamus Heaney

They stood. And stood for something. Just by standing.
In waiting. Unavailable. But there
For sure. Sure and unbending.
Rose-fingered dawn’s and navy midnight’s flower.

Seed packets to begin with, pink and azure,
Sifting lightness and small jittery promise:
Lupin spires, erotics of the future,
Lip-brush of the blue and earth’s deep purchase.

O pastel turrets, pods and tapering stalks
That stood their ground for all our summer wending
And even when they blanched would never balk.
And none of this surpassed our understanding.