Sarah St Vincent Welch #35 A toast to Cathy

A toast to Cathy

a shoal of glassy clinks

like a toast

of many friends

knocked by my heel

glasses packed aside

in a shoe box

thought I’d lost you

tiny glasses for port

amber sherry

liquors

small and fine

like you were

you looking up

into my face

laughing, watching

(in my mind, you still do)

I will raise each little glass

‘To Cathy’

sip sweet, sweet, sweet,

sweet as you, my friend

at our garage sale

fundraising for a dance

selling off my 50s dresses

to girls. I bought from you

patterned glasses

we laughed again

the nonsensical circles

our money just exchanged

for love and work

careful bookkeeper

so we could give, give

you remembered these,

passed them on

your Dad’s, 

so small, so so many,

so much cheer

I iced my cake at our stall

licking the knife as you grinned

liking me for running late

arriving with the naked

warm cake

the wind whipped up

the tablecloth

we leaned against the wall

together

here is the framed picture

women sipping coffee

talking about books 

on the Paris sidewalk

you gave it to me

for my wedding

to remember us

you reminded me

to relax, chillax,

enjoy this life

so I will make

these tiny glasses

into lights

make a laughing chandelier

to read by

your son gave us a light

when you died

to remember yours

we will