Her Last Birthday Card (Poetry)

Her birthday card was
already written
propped on the sideboard
with a cheque enclosed
his fatherly gift

The same as ever
the writing steady
his hand unchanging
mind and pen keeping
to habits grown old

Turned eighty, one might
expect a decline
in ability
to form each letter
so convincingly

No sign of dither
or hesitation
but firm and flowing
his grip had never
loosed to spider-scrawl

Sudden — sitting there
his dicky heart had
stopped to let him rest
bright greetings expressed
his last word on love