To Joan Small 2017 RIP my friend

A lovely lady with perfect posture     

her friendship eagerly extended            

The English language, her use of grammar     

so keenly and stoutly defended       

  

I first met Joan more than ten years ago  

And her birthday will be remembered       

That’s something else that we had in common    

For both Joan and I were ‘Septembered’     

Joan tried hard to help me with my poems         

By showing them to me ‘dismembered’      

By counting the beat with her clapping hands      

My rough lines more rhythmically rendered            

  

I used to e-mail my reports to her

Joan would then send them back all bettered

After ten long years of her corrections

Joan said go forth-young man unfettered

When Joan gave me the news a year ago

With a face that was strong yet haunted

She remained positive and forged ahead      

Her enthusiasm undaunted                            

Her wit never dimmed but it strained her voice

It was like her words had defected

Many checks were ordered as time slipped by

The results carefully dissected 

The tests were diagnosed as ALS

it hit hard to realize her plight 

Her life had delivered battles before

But her strength usually won the fight

No loss of mind nor elegance was gone

her clear tone was always well spoken

we really missed her and her poetry

Joan fought hard and was never broken

Joan did not seek me for pity or help

Such was the raw courage she wielded

She kept smiling and thought positively

To her fate she gracefully yielded

Our friend has moved on she has gone away

I felt her soul as she ascended

Joan battled so long to stay with us

Now her pain has peacefully ended

I’ll miss her lovely smile her friendly way

For her faith I remain indebted

Live a full life was a motto of hers

Nothings gained when nothing’s attempted

Bye for now my friend and we’ll meet again

We leave this world the way we entered

I’ve learnt many things about life from you

You taught me how to be more centered

This poem’s not perfect I’m sure of that

You know I started out unlettered

Take out your red pen Joan and mark it now

Yes it does need to be corrected

There are so many forms of love to know

The friendship branch we shared, extended

So many hearts here will miss your soft light

A warmth on which we all depended 

I will close these words now and wish you well

As an angel you have been measured

I’ll keep my fondest memories of you

Dear Joan you will always be treasured

Poetry in Paradise Reg TM No. 1028534 2017