Yoria's Ashes

Liverpool from the ferry in a postcard mailed in 1916

Yoria's Ashes

After a year of death,
we have an appointment

on the Mersey ferry
at 12 noon; Yoria's ashes

repose now in the closet
in their plastic urn,

ready for the final
journey across the ocean.

Age just shy of ninety,
she looked so small

when I identified her,
a personality shriveled,

rendered nut-size -- my
heart shrank in turn.

Now I will carry her
to the muddy Mersey,

ready to accept Yoria's
ashes -- the same river

that bore us to America
almost my lifetime ago.

Christopher T. George

Gerard Fleming has kindly made a reservation for us on the ferry leaving the Pier Head at 12 noon on Saturday, October 8.

I am desperately trying to get in contact with my Matchett cousins to see if any can attend but no joy yet. This would be especially meaningful because my Mum's cousins Harry and Walter Matchett, who had a ships provisions business in Canning Place, helped to see my mother and I off on the Cunard liner Saxonia when my Mum and I left for New York from the Landing Stage in January 1955.

If any Eratosphere members would like to join Gerard, my wife Donna and myself for the ceremony in two weeks time, the support would be nice. The occasion will be non-religious, and I thought we could have drinks afterward in the bar at the Crowne Plaza where we will be staying, as we usually do when we visit the 'Pool. I understand there is no fee to pay to Mersey Travel other than the regular fares. This is most gracious and Gerard tells me that scattering of ashes on the ferry is popular and you had to book ahead. We were lucky to get the reservation.