Our Last Collaboration

When she wasn't reading or walking
Carol enjoyed knitting needlepoint 
coloring or sewing.
In the first months of COVID
she sewed a hundred or so masks
to give to friends and family.
In her last years these projects helped her 
as she suffered with cancer moving in her.

Feast of Ephiphany 2022 - Carol's birthday.
As a gift I bought her a paint-by-numbers
rendering of the Scottish Highlands 
where we had toured the year before.
I thought this project something she might enjoy
though I wasn't sure she'd be up to it.
Nevertheless, days later I saw it stretched 
out on her sewing table and she had begun.
She was diligent, doing only a little each day.
The intricate detail could not be rushed.
She began in the upper left corner 
working downward to the right
as expected from a right-hander.
There were forested patches
mountain heights descending valleys.

She was not able to finish 
having completed three-fourths of the piece.
After she died I looked at her work
still stretched out on her sewing table
taped down at the edges.
Knowing what I must do wanted to do
I sat down one day to finish her work
taking weeks as it required careful detail.

Finally, we finished!
There was one thing remaining -
to properly frame it as it was our masterpiece!
I spared no expense, little matter it was a lowly paint-by-numbers.
I took it to a professional framer
spending a long time determining the best.
In the end I chose a frame, one made by hand -
cut, stained, bevelled edging, museum quality glass.

If I had to give up all else that hang on my walls
this piece only would remain.
It was and will ever be
our last collaboration, our work of art!