The saddest, most heartbreaking words I have ever written.
Our 3 yr old grandson Zach lost his battle against cancer in the early hours of yesterday morning, Sunday 11 October 2015.
He was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour in January of this year. It is a long word almost unpronounceable but is in fact a very aggressive cancerous mass on the brain. Following chemotherapy and radiotherapy he was given the all clear in July. Within a month it had returned and a month later he passed away.
October 24th was the day of Zach’s funeral. These things should not happen; it is against the order of things that old people outlive the young.
I wrote the following for my daughter Anne-Marie’s memory book.
This poem has been used in films and TV; in Judge John Deed, Midsomer Murders and last year in Coronation Street. It was only recently discovered that it was the work of Mary Elizabeth Frye; but in this version the words in the middle are mine.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the cry of geese over the River Lea
I am the splash of ducks as they dive for feed
I am the late running green line bus
I am the speeding train’s London’s rush
I am the songs of Disney TV
I am the laughter on CBBC
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there; I did not die.
I wanted him to have a lasting memorial so I purchased an acre of land in the Lake of Dreams on the Moon. You can see it in the north-eastern corner.
The deeds were sent to my daughter with these words from Gabriel Oak:
Whenever you look up there I shall be —
and whenever I look up, there will be you.