On Receiving A Letter From Marie

I wrote to the Sullivan family on the death of family member Catherine it seemed for me the proper thing to do They were my friends and neighbours when I lived in Millstreet and to our old friends we must remain true I was not expecting a letter in return and it came as a big surprise to me When I received a letter from Catherine's elder sister Marie she now is Mrs Cregan from Tralee. Marie from Claraghatlea one I remember her shiny wavy hair was chestnut brown A cheerful and a very friendly person one of the nicest west of Millstreet Town A warm hearted and a charming lady she always greeted with a big smile and hello And hearing from her in her time of sorrow brought back the memories of long ago. When she and Catherine and their younger brother James were going to school in Millstreet all three I recall were younger than I Those were the happiest days that I remember but on looking back the years just seemed to fly And our youthful Seasons for us went too quickly and the lust for wander carried us away From Duhallow and the meadows west of Millstreet where in Summer weather we made cocks of hay. She told me in her letter how she grieves for her sister Catherine they always were a close knit family Our crosses to bear can sometimes prove quite heavy and how sad so very sad this life can be? But time as we know is the greatest healer and though the pain of loss to heal may seem quite slow As time goes by from her grief she will recover and her ache of loss from her eventually will go. A surprise letter from Marie for to thank me for sympathy in writing I'd expressed at a family loss The passing of Catherine at a young age tragic and on the family such a heavy cross For Catherine her suffering is over though she did not live on to grow old and gray And for Marie grieving for her beloved sister the ache of loss in time will fade away.