Flowers on the railings

A community member popular and liked
thrown rag-doll into our garden by a car
the front railings twisted and torn
rent assunder by the force of the crash

These railings are now a memorial to her.
Colleagues, friends and family leave their tributes
to her and life her tragic death that brought
us closer to a neighbour we had barely known

One daughter witness to this appalling smash
helped in the moment, adrenalin pumped holding
it together for the sake of others. The mourning flowers
visible in the morning from her bed, she is unable to sleep

She stays with friends she stays away from home
losing herself finding peace in drinking til late
The floral gifts a remainder of the shocking event
the sheet pulled over her face closing her final act.

How long do we the family allow the grief
and out pouring to spill into our lives?
Due respect for loss for how long before
we rebuild the walls before we rebuild our life

A brief crazy moment rents holes in reality
brings two families together in death
the givers of flowers the owners of the twisted railings
connections like this should be tender and brief

Each has to accept the others position
to allow due dignity for the grieving
to allow the walls to be fixed and move on
for the sake of the livng to find a chance to sleep.