"You Forgot Your Hat"

“You Forgot Your Hat” painting and poem by Donna Parker
January 27th, 2015, San Miguel de Allende


Alas!
So like you —
Suddenly, unexpectedly,
Shocking and shaking me
To the very core of my existence,
You left.
Not for a weekend
Or an extended getaway
Permanently!
Forever!
No warning
No good byes
No last words of wisdom
No kiss on the cheek -
You simply dropped dead!
Just like that.

You left me breathless
Where did the oxygen go?
Why was everything stuck in my throat?

You told me we had a sacred contract
I agreed
Was it really for only two years?
I didn’t read the fine print.

I will miss our conversations
About art, about spirit, about life
About our little secrets.
I will miss our energy
joined in the studio
painting, enjoying music, chatting,
dancing, laughing.

We loved each other
In the best possible way -
As friends - honouring
All the good bits
All the bad bits
All the in-between bits -

I know you are very close by
We have already spoken through
The oh so thin veil
A privilege I cherish.

I remember the first breakfast
Just the two of us
You bought two of my paintings
Asked me to paint with you in
Your studio.

When I left that day
You went back to the library
to get a book
It was Paulo Coelho’s,”The Alchemist”
I had read it years before
“Read it, Donna. It will tell you
everything you need to know”
I knew then our relationship
was much more than earthly.

Then just as suddenly
You were gone
quickly - quietly - forever.
Knowing you has changed
me Toller.
Oh!  … and Toller …
You Forgot Your Hat. 

"You Forgot Your Hat" oil on canvas by Donna Parker  Sold