Sweet Coz

For Caz

Your mother was always like

Another mother to me,

Or maybe a slightly wicked

Older sister, teaching me to drink,

And raise the dead. The things

Your own parents so often never do.

Your face was always like

My own face, looking back

At me with my own eyes,

Making my own mistakes too.

I must try to warn you more

Against that, if I can

We still are two peas from

Too similar a pod, spirit sisters

You and I. I know you never

Liked the song but you are

My strong, my sweet Caroline.

Your resilience thrills me, and

It makes me proud that

We are alike, that I might

have some of that fire

Hidden in me too. Never forget

I love you, and I’m proud of you.

You’re doing grand, and don’t ever

Let the bastards tell you otherwise.

Your life is often too like

My own life, looking back,

So much that it’s scary,

Don’t make my mistakes too!

Keep on pushing through,

Like I tried to, in the end.

Oh my friend, you’ll win through

In the end. I promise you.