RHAPSODY FOR SHEILA: A TEA ROSE

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SHE’S GONE! it’s surreal, she’s gone,
ever so quietly, in blissful sleep at home, Hoshana!
No more tea, or the Archers on the radio for
loveable Sheila.

The Magnolia Tree, in mourning, has shed its blossom,
a silken carpet of pure white tears, where she walked,
a magical carpet, celebrating the passing of one of a kind,
loveable Sheila.

An English Rose with a European heart, a lover of London,
a Linguist, a Humanist, a friend of the young, the old,
the less able, an irrepressible good Samaritan, a tireless
universal aunt, a millstone round the neck of Officialdom,
loveable Sheila.

Now, the flowers, unwatered, will die, pining for
loveable Sheila.

Bye Bye Sheila, a heavenly Bluebird,
Rest in Peace in a bright corner of your Blue Heaven;
we shall meet again some sunny day,
loveable Sheila.

There is now nothing left to rhapsodise over,
Che Sara Sara, loveable Sheila….


A Tribute to my best friend for over half a
century: by YUNUS RAISS.
July 2019



Notes;- 

A Tea Rose is the type Sheila’s ashes are to be buried under; a lovely pink
and yellow aromatic rose; a hardy, variegated, beautiful variety called “Sheila’s
Perfume”.

-Hoshana: means to give praise or thanks. It is the Jewish spelling of the Christian
Hosanna. A comment on the Hamburger families Jewish heritage. Sheila passed
away peacefully and painlessly during the night of the 7th March 2019 at the age
of 78. Hoshana!

-There is a huge and very beautiful White Magnolia tree outside my flat in Maida
Vale which Sheila loved to watch and enjoy through the seasons.

-Che Sara Sara is Italian for “Whatever will be, will be”, a phrase made famous by
Doris Day in the 50’s song, one of Sheilas’ favourites! The song was originally in
Italian. Che Sara Sara is also the motto of Covent Garden in London where Sheila
spent a lot of time and where my English College, SELS, was based for many
years.

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