Living with Limoncello

To Mum & Dad

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune -

When darkness descends from the obsidian moon.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings,

As the world is full of hopeful happenings –

Painted in the celestial sky of eternal kings,

And the wandering wishes that humanity brings.

You stood us in front of Desiderata,

Offering us the Croker charter -

A written grant to be gentle with ourselves,

And escape into lands residing on dust coated bookshelves.

We danced in the dreams of Harry Potter’s curse,

Whilst reminded that we are children of the universe –

No less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

So here you must be to raise another beer

On Christmas Eve each year.

The Salt Path, an almost prophetic text,

Somewhat prepared me for what happened next.

In September, unknowingly sick and able to skip,

You walked from Constantine Bay without a conscious grip

Of the enormity of this physically courageous trip.

The aim was St Ives this time round,

But instead, you stopped at Portreath’s campground.

Minehead to Poole is your overall aim,

And of which one day, you shall proclaim –

Detailing the stunning view of seals at Port Mort,

With your artistic story telling that shall contort

The turbulent truth that this journey brought.

You smiled over fresh fish and chips,

And sips

Of cold pints of beers

Which glittered in ochre sunsets upon Cornish piers.

In 2022, on the 07th of December,

You told us that life is an adventure -

Echoing the instructions of Mahatma Gandhi,

Which now, might just come in handy.

He said:

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.”

You’ve always said never say never,

And whichever

Salt Path we fall upon,

Including those now beautifully foregone,

Will lead us to where we need to be –

Amongst our weird and wonderful family.

They say when life throws you lemons, make lemonade.

Yet after Six,

I recall that you forbade anything without a sparkly twist.

Thus, I propose without getting pissed,

That we turn our lemons into limoncello,

And raise our glasses to you, our jolly good fellow.

Here is to you Dad, and here is to Mum –

She is your best chum.

Without mum and her infectious laugh

Life would be quiet on our Salt Path.

Lots of Love,

Rhiannon x