My tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.

It is another anniversary of that awful day in August 31st when the world lost Diana, Princess of Wales. On that day, I was returning home with my brother from the city when we heard the news on his car radio. Diana, the announcer said, was believed to be seriously injured in a car accident in Paris. By time we arrived back home, we knew she had died.

Like so many around the world on that day, I was more than simply shocked. I remember sitting at my kitchen table and bursting into tears – all the while dazed by this unexpected deep sorrow for a woman I had never met, or would ever hope to meet.

And as my tears fell and fell, I found myself writing this poem…

Death comes for us all.

If there is a lesson to be learnt
it is this:
death comes upon us all
when we least expect.
Diana, now,
forever young
most likely wanted more
but, deprived of privacy,
our last memories
of her
are imagined images
of a bloodied head
her body broken beyond repair
Diana, in life simply beautiful,
As simply robbed by death

Diana,
flawed, vulnerable
a woman
who yet lit
a candle in the darkness of our world.
Who could ever guess
because we loved her light
we would, too soon,
Mourn her death

If there is a lesson to be learnt
it is this:
Never take for granted
what we have
Treat it gently
because you never know
what the day will bring.
Diana dead?
what more can I say but this:
One more candle blown out.

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