The first was the time you surrendered

to that tragic knowing;

you looked it straight in the eye

and it stared back at you blankly

and you knew:

Their time has come. Now

is their turn to die.

the truth of it struck deeply

like a long dark chord within.

The second surrender wraps you

in gossamer threads of hope

as you walk through the door ahead,

without them

not because you stop loving them,

but because you love them still.

With gratitude for all that brought you here

you can put down the weight you carry

to step lighter on along the path,

because, with it all,

part of you will find a way

to do the task you set for yourself

all those years ago,

when spirits were high

and nothing seemed impossible.

Di Percy, 2020