Are you familiar with the song
The Grandfather Clock?
The clock stopped, short,
never to go again
when the old man died.

Danny’s garden
is a bit like that.

In his lifetime
Danny’s garden was magnificent.
It truly was a riot of colour.
Danny’s garden
was his life’s work
and a labour of love.
Danny’s garden
was his masterpiece.

Just a week and a half
before he died
Danny took me on a tour of his garden
introducing each plant, tree and shrub
and explaining about the names.

Danny loved his garden!

Danny’s garden started to fade
shortly after he died.
First to go
was the hosta plant
closely followed by
Danny’s beloved lupins,
all devoured by slugs.
Then the red robin tree
that Danny had lovingly shaped and tended
died inexplicably.
And as for the hedge
that surrounds the entire garden,
well, it just struggles on.

It’s almost as if the garden senses
that its caretaker has gone.

These days
when I stand by Danny’s graveside
saying a wee prayer
I always wonder
whether there are gardens in heaven.
I hope that there are!

© Claire Murray, 8/2/16