#SeasonalSonnets 2019: 9th December

Hello my lovely readers

Today's sonnet topic has always been clear - it's in honour of Gemma's eighteenth anniversary - but, thanks to loadshedding, I was unsure if I'd manage to post it. Lack of electricity inspired us to find other things to do, however, so we went to the beach and drew a heart at the water's edge to hold Gemma's name and dates. That is the featured photo for this post.

It also struck me how apt the environment was for the significance of the day. As I wrote two years ago, Gemma had a fondness for the idea of Christmas in summer, and painted a tree scene on our local bridge during a holiday scheme. That's exactly what we'll have here. So, although I'm sad, hurting, and still struggling with the concept of festivity, I'm going to try and reclaim it, even a tiny bit, for her. There will be tears along the way (there have been even as I'm typing this) but hopefully healing too.

9th December 2019

Tonight I'm writing for my dearest Gem,

whose laughter left us eighteen years ago,

when she was just eleven, and I ten;

girls having fun in sunshine and in snow.

Since then I've found it hard when it is Christmas

because the season makes me feel sad.

I've always thought it might best be called 'Miss-mass' -

but Gem herself did not think it was bad.

In fact, of festivals, it was her favourite

(she even drew a tree upon a bridge).

Perhaps, then, it's my duty now to savour it

and so to honour her, though I'm a grinch.

I think I'll try and start again this summer

so Christmas gradually becomes less glum(mer).

Gemma, 26/09/1990 - 09/12/2001