Remembered

Dressed in blue overalls and stout boots, socks turned over their knotted bows,  she walked slowly, looking at not only the shrubs and flowers but three much loved maples. Their places in the garden had been carefully chosen as memorial to the passing of three precious siblings  They were often stroked, smiled or nodded at as if a first time greeting. Sometimes she’d put an ear ‘pon bark and hear the city beneath it come alive. Sometimes she’d cry. 

   ‘Good morning,  blackbird, ‘wondered where you were. You don’t look too smart, has the wind messed with your get up and go?!’

(Yes, woman talks to herself)  Lady-dog gave an almost bark,  wagged her tail, looked from gardener to bird as if watching tennis at Wimbledon.  Suddenly the sound of milkie’s knock!  Madame rushed from kitchen to hall then stood barking at the man’s face peering  into a small  green and yellow patterned window.  Funny-daft,  he called her name. She of course had to bark even more. Adding even more to the comedic drama, Clark rattled the letter box!’   

Five minutes later, head deep in shoulders, gardener rushed as rush she could, looking for signs  or this or that damage or daring. Nearing the the first of the rose gardens, the woman stood, gazing until a lock of hair stroked her neck as.. if.. if..  her once lover  might have.  Moving forward towards a protected bush,  she saw it had one remaining flower.  She reached into her pocket til she found her late dad’s sharp knife then, swiftly and expertly cut off that last flower, the one that meant..  so much.

Nooo, never too much.  Exhausted but exhilarated, Madame plonked ‘pon the grass.  The blackbird murbled a farewell something  before flying towards one of the maples.

   ‘Come on, you, the air’s making itself felt.’

Woman, dog and rose carefully passed a silken web lying across a crystal white astrantia.  Fifteen steps on they were indoors, four ears and satin-red petals basking in any – and everything!