Tribute to a beautiful purple clothed soul

Jane, Jane, far from plain,

how I wish I could see you again,

Your friendship was real,

Your courage made of steel,

You were curious of mind

And your heart was kind

Both funny and caring

Status and bullshit

had no bearing

Your passions were varied

and really quite vast

So many you built

from back in the past

Not all understood

But they got you just

as best as they could

Whether politics or motorbikes

Or Santa pod or jive

Gosh you were very, very alive

Your family came first

Your passion, your purpose,

Rachel and Mark,

Ella and her art

Your partner Phil

And John too

All were very loved by you,

Over the years you opened

your home and your heart

To those from the theatre

along with their art

You trained to listen

to the stories of others

Of life, love and loss

brothers and mothers

You shared of your wisdom,

your care and compassion

For supporting others

was your true mission

So that’s how we met

The three of us

We were working together

without a fuss

Steph, you and me

We didn’t need long

For us to see

That we shared in a song

Our friendship was meant to be

We hung out together

In cafes and places

We talked about everything

While filling our faces

Whether family or fears

Or our client cases

with laughter or tears

We shared it all

Over all these years

We visited the Freud museum

And gardens and tea rooms

We shared in our joys

and we shared in our suffering

We did this thing called life together

Sharing so much more than just the weather

Jane was kind,

strong and wise,

creative and colourful

With depth in her eyes

She supported us all

And I could never imagine

What would her, befall

Our friendship has spanned over many years

And supported me personally through all my fears

Life bought highs and life bought lows

And why hers has gone now,

nobody knows 

We shared together in laughter and fun

And everything else that is under the sun

we shared this precious gift of life

her absence now,

cuts like a knife

Her death seems 

Very, very surreal

We’ll never again hug

Or share in a meal

How can it be that she’s no longer here

I can’t say this without shedding a tear

For Jane was as real as real can be

But she’s no longer here for you or for me

I’m so very grateful that she came

To give us her presence, invest of her love

For me, I see her

as a gift from above

On this matter, we didn’t agree

But there was always room

for you to be you

and me to be me

You gave me such kindness, love and care

When I was hurting, you found time to spare

God Almighty, this death feels so unfair

I know you wanted to watch your family grow

You didn’t want to have to go

I wonder whether you did know

There was so much love you were able to sow

You gave me the gift of your presence in my pain

And because of that I will never be the same

You reminded me just how far I had come

When I couldn’t see because I was too undone

You taught me to love myself when I’m in need

I’m very grateful that you sowed me this seed

Oh what a gift you have been to me

I wonder if you knew this was what I could see

I never told you the impact you had

And now this makes me so very sad

Of time I thought there would be more

Of this I felt so very sure

But your time was gone

And with it, the light that you shone

I’m so sorry Jane

I never told you this

of the impact you had

it was very remiss

because the friendship you gave

made me very glad

But I still see you now in your blue suede coat

Just nipping out to have a smoke

Your fingerless gloves

And your purple car

I still see you and love you

just as you are

Your kindness, compassion,

your smile and your eyes

your patience and care

through all of my sighs

you encouraged my writing

and to honour my needs

You saw, got, and loved me just as I am

and you taught me to do the same

now this holds me through all of this pain

I wish I told you when I saw you last

But now the time has already passed

So I’’ll say it here

Thank you, Jane,

for being my friend

you were thoughtful and true

right to the end

Jane, Jane,

You were far from plain

Oh how I long to see you again

But grateful I do remain

that you came

And now you live on

deep in my heart

And feed me from there

Right into my art

Thank you, Jane,

For being you.

I still sense you when I feel blue

Thank you, Jane,

For being you.