The day you died I ate a lime
And pondered how it shared its time
On Earth, beneath the Sun with you.

The light drawn deep through pitted skin
To feed the precious pips within
And swell the flesh, so sharp and fresh,
Sweet goodness, given life.

And now you're gone and numbness lies around us like a blanket
Grey wool absorbing every short, sharp gasp that greets the news.

And as your embers start to fade
The clustered citrus suns displayed
In fruit bowls where your children played
Lie desiccate and drawn

The day you died, I ate a lime
And pondered how it shared its time
On Earth, beneath the Sun with you

And as I scored its skin with steel,
And turned it in my hands to peel,
Its juice fell all around my feet
Like blood onto a Yorkshire street.