On 29th February 2000, at only 29 years old, I lost Sonia, a very dear friend. She was born with Marfan's Syndrome and had always suffered a host of serious, and often painful health problems. However, despite it all she was one of the bravest, funniest, and most joyous characters I have ever met. Infact I have still to meet anyone so cheerful or full of life.
Rather than mark the anniversary of her death (which , having died on a leap year only comes round once every four years), I always try to do something positive to mark her birthday. This year I planted a Sonia Rose, which inspired the follwing poem. I hope you enjoy it.
Sonia Rose
Deeply velvet soft
Strong & beautiful with impactful presence
Fragile, delicate, vulnerable
Resilient but battered by the storm
You turned to the sunlight.
Now re-born, your heady flowers bloom
Humour sharp as thorns
Stems, once crooked, now grow straight and true
Budding hope grows stronger every day.
Longing to embrace you
Entwined as only loving hearts can be
But fearing the prick of pain the memories of our missed closeness bring.
Dewy droplets nestled all around;
Once tears of sadness
Then tears of joy
Now glistening stardust sent by you with love
That heavenly scent and echo in the breeze
Remind us you are not really gone.
Your roots may still lay here with us
But your blossom turns its face to heaven
Your arms reach out for a different kind of love.
So loving you enough to set you free, we watch you run and laugh in sunshine
Missing you, but knowing we will touch in dreams
And we will be together forever in our hearts.

