#freeverse #poetry
When someone dies,
it is a loss to the sphere they lived in.
Lorraine Walker was a unique character,
A hard shell hiding a soft heart within.
Lorraine was born in 1946 and lost her mother,
aged 3 years old. She went into care until she was 10.
Fostered and later adopted by Betty and the late George,
Her tough exterior had already been formed.
Lorraine married Colin, and they chose to adopt Glynn.
Whom she loved dearly. Lorraine went on to marry Anders
And lived and worked in Sweden for many years.
She cared for and helped rehome refugees.
Lorraine learned Swedish and in her later years
could still watch Swedish films without the subtitles.
Back in Oldham, she ran an old people's home
There, she introduced Christmas gifts for the residents.
When she retired she volunteered for Keyring,
an organisation for people with learning difficulties.
Lorraine had an extensive knowledge of welfare benefits
which she used to help others including me to get our benefits.
She helped neighbours and friends and even complete strangers!
Lorraine had strong opinions and could be acerbic,
but her kind and caring heart always came through
in her tireless efforts to help others throughout her life.
Dogs featured in Lorraine's life from the Cavalier King Charles,
Peggy Patch to Little Nell the Poochon, cross between a
poodle and a bichon frisé, who has now
found a new loving home.
She always paid for hay at Christmas for distressed donkeys too.
In her later years, Lorraine struggled with the effects of COPD.
She also had psoriasis, but she was stoical
and never complained about her illnesses.
When asked how she was, she replied, "I am here!"
My hope for Lorraine is that she is enfolded in her mother's loving arms,
and is finally resting in everlasting peace.
©Carolyn Crossley🦊VixenOfVerse, 2026
VIXEN of VERSE 
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