When the Rose is faded

When the rose is faded,
Memory may still dwell on
Her beauty shadowed,
And the sweet smell gone.

That vanishing loveliness,
That burdening breath,
No bond of life hath then,
Nor grief of death.

'Tis the immortal thought
Whose passion still
Makes the changing
The unchangeable.

Oh, thus thy beauty,
Loveliest on earth to me,
Dark with no sorrow, shines
And burns, with thee.

Walter de la Mare

Sorry to be gloomy but this is my little tribute to my lovely young friend, Lorraine, who has just lost her long and very brave fight to cancer; and brave she was throughout her illness , determined to beat it to the end. The funeral is next week and we'll be there to say our last goodbyes to an inspirational young woman and her equally brave parents.