Memories of Nanny

This is something I wrote for my grandmother’s funeral service recently. Its simply some of my memories of her life with my grandfather who died 10 years ago, in their bungalow in Twyford.

Ten years he’s been calling now
From a long-empty arm chair
In a far-off front room somewhere
Calling for her to come to him
To bring his lunch in from the kitchen
But for ten years now she’s been busy
And this ten years has not answered him
Busy baking and brewing tea for everyone
Saving old papers in a box in the back room
Busy spreading honey over thick toasted bread
Making soups and jams, filling jars, making beds.
Busy in the garden ‘mongst the flowers and bees
Busy on her knees, pulling weeds
And planting and pruning and gathering up
The beans and the berries in a plastic tub
Busy making sure everyone’s alright
That we’re comfy and have everything we like
Busy giving and sharing, busy caring
About all the people she knows
and those she hardly knows at all
Remembering faces and old stories of places
We’ve all forgotten long ago
Busy until the end of every day
Spending time sending letters to say
Hello, and how she’s thinking of you,
Always telling you straight, telling it true.
Busy up until the end arrives
Until the busyness stops and it becomes time
To finally answer that distant call
And join him in that front-room forever more.